Question

If an animal cell is placed into a solution whose concentration of dissolved substances is higher than that inside the cell,

• A. the cell will swell
• B. the cell will shrivel
• C. the solution is described as hypertonic
• D. both (b) and (c) are correct

Answer 1

The correct option is D

both (b) and (c) are correct

The correct option is D

Explanation of the correct option:

1. The tendency of a fluid, usually water, to pass through a semi-permeable membrane into a solution, where the solvent concentration is higher, thus equalizing the concentrations of materials on either side of the membrane is called osmosis.
2. As the concentration of dissolved substances in the solvent is higher than that inside the cell, the solution is hypertonic.
3. Consequently, water will move out of the cell and the cell will shrink.
4. When a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, water tends to flow out of the cell, because the water concentration is more inside the cell than outside the cell.
5. Cells placed in a hypertonic solution will shrink.

Final answer: If an animal cell is placed into a solution whose concentration of dissolved substances is higher than that inside the cell then the cell will shrivel and the solution is described as hypertonic.