Question

A cell when dipped in 0.5 M sucrose solution has no effect but when the same cell is dipped in 0.5 M NaCl solution, it will:

• A. Increase in size
• B. Decrease in size
• C. Becomes turgid
• D. Get plasmolysed

Answer 1

The correct option is D Get plasmolysed

A cell dipped in 0.5 M sucrose solution do decrease in size but this takes time. The process of shrinking of the protoplasm of cell due to movement of water from its higher concentration (inside cell) to the region where its concentration is low (in sucrose or salt solution) is known as plasmolysis. Plasmolysis takes more time when the cell is placed in the solutions of low molarity. When the same cell is placed in 0.5 M NaCl solution, the decrease in cell size is seen immediately because though the molarity is same but the solution contains salt as a solute and is an electrolyte solute. Thus, it causes the rate of plasmolysis to increase.