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What happens to a cell placed in a hypotonic solution?

Question

What happens to a cell placed in a hypotonic solution?

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Solution

When a cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, the following events occur:

  1. A hypotonic solution is one where the concentration of solutes is lower outside the cell than inside the cell. This means there is a higher concentration of water molecules outside the cell than inside.

  2. Due to the difference in concentration, water molecules will start to move from an area of high concentration (outside the cell) to an area of low concentration (inside the cell). This process is known as osmosis.

  3. As water enters the cell, it causes the cell to swell. The cell membrane is flexible to some extent, so it expands as water continues to flow in.

  4. If the cell is an animal cell and too much water enters, it can burst, or lyse, because it does not have a cell wall to prevent this. This is called lysis.

  5. If the cell is a plant cell, it will not burst because it has a rigid cell wall that can withstand the increased pressure. Instead, it becomes turgid, which is a firm state that helps support the plant.

  6. The cell will continue to swell until the concentration of water is equal inside and outside the cell, or until the cell bursts (in the case of animal cells).

So, in summary,

This problem has been solved

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An animal cell and a plant cell were immersed in a hypotonic solution. Both cells received water by osmosis. The animal cell has ruptured but the plant cell has not. Evaluate this.

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