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Which part of a plant cell helps it stay intact and prevents bursting in a hypotonic environment?
Vacuole
Cytoplasm
Cell wall made of cellulose
Cell membrane
Cell wall made of cellulose
The cell wall is a rigid, non-living outer layer composed primarily of cellulose that provides structural support to plant cells. In a hypotonic environment, water enters the cell via osmosis, and the cell wall exerts an equal and opposite pressure, called wall pressure, to counteract turgor pressure, thus preventing the cell from bursting.
The cell wall is a rigid, non-living outer layer composed primarily of cellulose that provides structural support to plant cells. In a hypotonic environment, water enters the cell via osmosis, and the cell wall exerts an equal and opposite pressure, called wall pressure, to counteract turgor pressure, thus preventing the cell from bursting.
Think of a plant cell like a car tire: the inner tube (cell membrane) wants to expand as you pump air (water) into it, but the sturdy outer rubber casing (cell wall) contains it, preventing it from blowing out.
CW-S: Cell Wall = Support.
╬иwтАЛ=╬иsтАЛ+╬иpтАЛ тАФ water potential equation where ╬иpтАЛ (pressure potential) is constrained by the cell wall
PturgorтАЛ=PwallтАЛ тАФ equality at equilibrium in a hypotonic environment
When a plant cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, the solute concentration inside the cell is higher than outside, causing water to flow into the cell due to the osmotic gradient. As the protoplast expands, it pushes against the rigid cell wall. The wall exerts a mechanical counter-pressure (wall pressure) that equals the turgor pressure, establishing an equilibrium state called turgidity.
The cell wall is permeable to water and dissolved substances.
Turgidity is essential for the mechanical strength and upright posture of non-woody plants.
Cellulose microfibrils provide the high tensile strength required to resist osmotic pressure.
Provides structural integrity
Protects against mechanical stress
Maintains plant cell shape
Limits rapid movement or cell motility
Restricts cell growth to specific directions
Turgor pressure maintenance in leaves and stems
Water transport in xylem tissues
Vacuoles store cell sap and contribute to turgor pressure but lack structural rigidity.
Cytoplasm is the internal fluid medium, not a protective barrier.
Cell membrane is selectively permeable but flexible, thus susceptible to lysis (bursting) without a cell wall in hypotonic conditions.
C is correct тАФ The cell wall is a rigid structure composed of cellulose that resists internal turgor pressure, preventing plant cells from bursting in hypotonic solutions.
Always remember: Animal cells lack a cell wall, which is why they undergo cytolysis (burst) in hypotonic solutions, whereas plant cells become turgid.
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