A plant cell placed in distilled water will ______________; an animal cell placed in distilled water will ______________. a. burst … burst b. become flaccid . . . shrivel c. become turgid . . . be normal in shape d. become turgid . . . burst

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of osmosis: Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.
2. Consider the environment of distilled water: Distilled water is pure water with no solutes. When cells are placed in distilled water, the external solute concentration is lower than the internal solute concentration of the cells.
3. Analyze the response of a plant cell: Plant cells have a rigid cell wall outside the cell membrane. When placed in distilled water, water enters the cell by osmosis, causing the cell to swell. However, the rigid cell wall prevents it from bursting, leading the cell to become turgid (swollen and firm).
4. Analyze the response of an animal cell: Animal cells lack a cell wall and only have a cell membrane. When placed in distilled water, water enters the cell by osmosis. Without a rigid cell wall to prevent over-expansion, the cell will continue to swell and can eventually burst.
5. Match the responses to the correct option: Based on the analysis, a plant cell becomes turgid and an animal cell bursts when each is placed in distilled water. This corresponds to the option where the plant cell becomes turgid and the animal cell bursts.