AP BIOLOGY

THE CELL

TRANSPORT INTO AND OUT OF THE CELL

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
If the volume of a cell increases when it is placed in a solution, that solution is said to be ____ to the cell
A
hypertonic
B
subatomic
C
isotonic
D
hypotonic
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -If a cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, there will be a net flow of water into the cell, and the cell will gain volume. If the solute concentration outside the cell is lower than inside the cell, and the solutes cannot cross the membrane, then that solution is hypotonic to the cell.

Detailed explanation-2: -A cell placed into a hypotonic solution will swell and expand until it eventually burst through a process known as cytolysis.

Detailed explanation-3: -Hypotonic solution refers to a solution containing a lower amount of solute in comparison to the solute concentration in other solutions, across a semipermeable membrane. Such a solution has a decreased solute concentration and a total movement of water in the cell.

Detailed explanation-4: -When a cell placed in hypertonic solution (has more solutes that cell), the cell will shrink because water moves out, firstly from the cytoplasm and then from the vacuole. This process is called as exosmosis which leads to the plasmolysis.

There is 1 question to complete.