Multiple Choice
Elodea cells are placed in a hypertonic solution relative to their cytoplasm. Which outcome best describes what happens due to osmosis?
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14. Solutions
Osmosis
Multiple Choice
Which statement best describes a hypertonic solution relative to a cell?
A
It has a lower solute concentration than the cell, so water moves into the cell by osmosis.
B
It has the same solute concentration as the cell, so there is no net movement of water.
C
It causes solute to diffuse into the cell until equilibrium is reached, with no net water movement.
D
It has a higher solute concentration than the cell, so water moves out of the cell by osmosis.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of tonicity, which describes the relative concentration of solutes in a solution compared to the inside of a cell.
Recall that osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.
Define a hypertonic solution as one that has a higher solute concentration outside the cell than inside the cell.
Recognize that in a hypertonic solution, water will move out of the cell to the area of higher solute concentration to try to balance solute levels on both sides of the membrane.
Conclude that this movement of water out of the cell causes the cell to shrink, which is the key characteristic of a hypertonic environment relative to the cell.
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