Question

When an animal cell is kept in water, it will burst. Why?

• A. Cell gains water by osmosis.
• B. Cell membrane dissolves in water
• C. Cell membrane becomes weak
• D. The force of outside water is more than the force of cytoplasm.

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Cell gains water by osmosis.

An animal cell contains cytoplasm which has many nutrients and dissolved mineral. Therefore this solution becomes hypertonic to the surrounding water where no minerals or salts are present. Thus outside water is hypotonic to the cytoplasm of the cell. As a result, water moves inside the cell and the cell bursts.