Question

what happens when a cell is put in

1)sugar solution

2)salt solution

Answer 1

Cells may shrink if kept in a very strong salt & sugar solution.

• This is because of osmosis. Osmosis is the passage of water from a region of high water concentration to a region of low water concentration through a semi permeable membrane.
• If a medium surrounding the cell has a lower water concentration than the cell, the cell will lose water by osmosis.

Let’s apply this concept.

• Cells shrink if kept in a very strong salt & sugar solution. It is because it loses water by osmosis. Water crosses the cell membrane in both directions, but more water leaves the cell than enters it. The net result is that water leaves the cells.
• Therefore the cells will shrink.

More to Know:

If we place a cell in distilled water, water will begin to enter the cell, causing it to swell and burst.

• Distilled water has low salt levels and it is a hypotonic solution. The salt concentration is higher inside the cell than outside. So, due to osmosis, the water will enter the cell and increases the pressure inside the cells and the cell will eventually burst.