Question

Observe the given figure and answer the following question. What has happened to cells? Explain. (Consider the cells as A and B respectively).

Answer 1

Hypertonic solution is a solution having higher concentration of solutes on the outside of the cell than inside the cell. In this case, the water moves from within the cell to outside the cell. This result in plasmolysis of the cell as cell shrinks. Hypotonic solution is a solution having lower concentration of the solutes on the outside of the cell than inside the cell. In this case, the water moves from outside of the cell into inside. This results in the swelling of the cell and cell becomes turgid. In the given figure, cell A is placed in hypotonic solution. This results in the inflow of water and swelling of the cell. The cell becomes turgid. Cell B is placed in hypertonic solution. This results in the outflow of the water and cell shrinks. The cell becomes plamolyzed.