Question

What will happen if cells are placed in distilled water?

• A. The cells remain unchanged.
• B. Water moves from inside of the cell to the outside.
• C. Water moves from outside of the cell to the inside.
• D. The cells shrink.
• E. The cells dissolve.

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Water moves from outside of the cell to the inside.

• Solute concentration is higher inside the cell as compared to that in the distilled water i.e., distilled water is hypotonic and the cell's interior is hypertonic.
• Water will move from outside to the inside of the cell through the semi-permeable cell membrane and will cause the cell to swell.

Therefore, the correct answer is option C.