A cell is placed in a solution that is hypotonic to the cell. Which of the following best describes movement of water in this situation? a. Water will only flow into the cell. b. Water will only flow out of the cell. c. Water will flow into and out of the cell, but the overall net movement will be out of the cell. d. Water will flow into and out of the cell, but the overall net movement will be into the cell.
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Understand the terms: A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the concentration inside the cell.
Recall 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.
Apply osmosis to the scenario: Since the solution is hypotonic relative to the cell, the water concentration outside the cell is higher than inside.
Predict water movement: Water will move from the hypotonic solution (higher water concentration) into the cell (lower water concentration) to try to equalize the solute concentrations on both sides of the membrane.
Choose the correct answer: The overall net movement of water will be into the cell, making option 'd' the correct answer.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Osmosis
Osmosis is the movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. This process continues until equilibrium is reached, where the concentration of solutes is equal on both sides of the membrane. In biological systems, osmosis is crucial for maintaining cell turgor and overall homeostasis.
A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of a cell. When a cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, water moves into the cell to balance the solute concentrations. This influx of water can cause the cell to swell and potentially burst if the osmotic pressure becomes too great.
The net movement of water refers to the overall direction of water flow across a membrane, taking into account both the inflow and outflow. In a hypotonic environment, while water may move in both directions, the net movement will be into the cell due to the higher concentration of solutes inside the cell, leading to an increase in cell volume.
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