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What process occurs when a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution?
Exosmosis leading to shrinkage
Endosmosis leading to swelling
Plasmolysis in animal cells only
No change in volume
Exosmosis leading to shrinkage
When a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution (a solution with higher solute concentration than the cell's cytoplasm), water molecules move out of the cell across the semi-permeable membrane. This process, known as exosmosis, causes the cell to lose volume and shrink.
When a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution (a solution with higher solute concentration than the cell's cytoplasm), water molecules move out of the cell across the semi-permeable membrane. This process, known as exosmosis, causes the cell to lose volume and shrink.
Think of a grape turning into a raisin when placed in a concentrated sugar syrup; the water from the grape leaves to balance the high sugar concentration outside.
HE-S: Hypertonic = Exosmosis = Shrinkage.
╬иwтАЛ=╬иsтАЛ+╬иpтАЛ тАФ where ╬иwтАЛ is water potential, ╬иsтАЛ is solute potential, and ╬иpтАЛ is pressure potential.
The movement of water is governed by the principle of osmosis, where water molecules move from a region of higher water potential to a region of lower water potential through a semi-permeable membrane. In a hypertonic environment, the external solute concentration is high, creating a low water potential outside the cell, forcing internal water to diffuse outward to achieve equilibrium. This net loss of water reduces the cell's turgor pressure.
Hypertonic solution has higher solute concentration than the cell interior.
Exosmosis is the movement of water out of the cell.
In plant cells, this causes the cell membrane to pull away from the cell wall, a process called plasmolysis.
Animal cells lack a rigid cell wall and undergo crenation (shriveling) when placed in hypertonic solutions.
Preservation of food (e.g., salting meat or pickling) to inhibit microbial growth.
Biological staining and microscopic study of cellular structures.
Option B is incorrect because endosmosis (water entry) occurs in a hypotonic solution.
Option C is incorrect because plasmolysis occurs primarily in plant cells due to the presence of a rigid cell wall, whereas animal cells simply shrivel.
Option D is incorrect because the movement of water across the membrane is a dynamic, continuous process dependent on concentration gradients.
A is correct тАФ Exosmosis leads to the outward movement of water, causing the cell to shrink when placed in a hypertonic solution.
Remember the sequence 'Hyper-Exo-Shrink' for exam questions; hypertonic solutions always draw water out of the cell!