A(n)
dropdown
solution has a higher concentration of water and lower concentration of solute than the cell placed in the solution.
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The solution described is a hypotonic solution.
In a hypotonic solution, the concentration of water molecules is higher, and the concentration of solute molecules is lower compared to the inside of a cell. This creates an osmotic gradient where water moves into the cell through its semi-permeable membrane.
To understand why this happens, it’s important to know how osmosis works. Osmosis is the movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. This movement continues until equilibrium is reached, where the solute concentrations are balanced on both sides of the membrane.
When a cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, the concentration of solutes outside the cell is lower than inside the cell. Consequently, the concentration of water is higher outside the cell. Water moves into the cell to balance the concentration of solutes inside and outside. As water enters the cell, it causes the cell to swell and can potentially lead to bursting if too much water enters. This process is known as cytolysis or osmotic lysis.
In contrast, if a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, which has a higher concentration of solutes and a lower concentration of water compared to the cell, water will move out of the cell, leading to cell shrinkage or crenation. An isotonic solution has an equal concentration of solutes and water inside and outside the cell, resulting in no net movement of water and no change in cell size.
Overall, understanding the nature of these solutions is crucial in fields like cell biology and medicine, as it helps in predicting how cells will respond to different environmental conditions.