Question

A cell will swell up if________________

• A. The concentration of water molecules in the cell is higher than the concentration of water molecules in surrounding medium.
• B. The concentration of water molecules in surrounding medium is higher than water molecules concentration in the cell.
• C. The concentration of water molecules is same in the cell and in the surrounding medium.
• D. Concentration of water molecules does not matter.

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

The concentration of water molecules in surrounding medium is higher than water molecules concentration in the cell.

The cell swells up when endosmosis occurs. Endosmosis is a process in which the water molecules move from outside to the inside of the cell through the cell membrane. This occurs when the solution is hypotonic, i.e., the cell has a lower solute concentration than the surrounding medium.