Question

Which of the following is an example of imbibition?

• A. Swelling of wood during rainy season
• B. Shrinkage of protoplasm of cells when placed in hypertonic solution
• C. Sodium potassium pump
• D. Exchange of gases through stomata

Answer 1

The correct option is A Swelling of wood during rainy season

The swelling of wood during the rainy season is due to adsorption of moisture. Adsorption (surface attraction) of water by hydrophilic substances is called imbibition. Wood is a hydrophilic substance. A hydrophilic substance has a strong affinity to water.
Shrinkage of protoplasm when a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution is called plasmolysis. A hypertonic solution has more concentration of solutes when compared with the cell sap.
Sodium-potassium pump is an example of active transport.
Exchange of gases through stomata is by diffusion.