Question

Assertion (A): A cell kept in a hypertonic solution would shrink.
Reason (R): Water tends to move from a region of low solute concentration to a high solute concentration.

Choose the correct statement.

• A. Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is not the correct explanation for (A).
• B. Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation for (A).
• C. (A) is correct while (R) is incorrect.
• D. (R) is correct while (A) is incorrect.

Answer 1

The correct option is B Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation for (A).

A solution is said to be hypertonic if it has a higher solute concentration than any other solution. Water has a tendency to move from a region of low solute concentration to high solute concentration. Therefore, if a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, the water content within it, would move out of the cell, making it shrink.