Question

If cells of onion peel and RBC are separately kept in hypotonic solution, what among the following will take place? Explain the reason for your answer.

• A. Both the cells will swell.
• B. RBC will burst easily while cells of onion peel will resist the bursting to some extent.
• C. a and b both are correct.
• D. RBC and onion peel cells will behave similarly.

Answer 1

The correct option is C

a and b both are correct.

The correct option is C.

Explanation for the correct option:

1. When the cells are kept in a hypotonic solution it swells up. This happens because of endosmosis.
2. In the case of endosmosis, we will see that the solvent molecules will move from the hypotonic solution into the cell.
3. The RBC will swell up and even can burst due to the entry of solvent molecules.
4. But in the case of onion peel cells, they will resist bursting to some extent due to rigid plant cell walls.

Explanation for the incorrect options:

Option A:

This option is correct because both the cells will swell in the hypotonic solution, but is incomplete.

Option B:

This option is also correct but is incomplete.

Option D:

Both the cells to some extent behave similarly but not completely. Hence this option is also incorrect.

Final answer: If cells of onion peel and RBC are separately kept in a hypotonic solution, both the cells will swell and we will see that the RBC will burst easily while cells of onion peel will resist the bursting to some extent.