Multiple Choice
Osmosis is best defined as the movement of:
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14. Solutions
Osmosis
Multiple Choice
In a hypertonic solution, in which direction does water move through aquaporins (assuming the membrane is permeable to water but not to solute)?
A
There is no net movement of water because aquaporins eliminate osmotic pressure.
B
Water moves into the cell (from the hypertonic side to the hypotonic side).
C
Solute moves through aquaporins, causing water to follow by diffusion.
D
Water moves out of the cell (from the hypotonic side to the hypertonic side).
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of tonicity: A hypertonic solution has a higher solute concentration compared to the inside of the cell, while a hypotonic solution has a lower solute concentration.
Recall that aquaporins are channels that allow water to move across the cell membrane but do not allow solutes to pass through.
Apply the principle of osmosis: Water moves from an area of lower solute concentration (hypotonic) to an area of higher solute concentration (hypertonic) to balance solute concentrations on both sides of the membrane.
Since the solution outside the cell is hypertonic, water will move out of the cell through aquaporins to the hypertonic side, causing the cell to lose water.
Note that solutes do not move through aquaporins, so water movement is driven solely by osmotic pressure differences, not by solute diffusion.
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