Question
A plant cell is placed in a solution whose solute concentration is twice as great as the concentration of the cell cytoplasm. The plasma membrance is selectively permeable, allowing water but not solutes to pass through. What will happen to the cell?
The cell will swell because of endosmosis
The cell will shrivel because of exosmosis
The cell will shrivel because of active transport of water
No change will occur because of hard impervious cell wall present
Solution
B.
The cell will shrivel because of exosmosis
The cell will shrivel because of exosmosis. Exosmosis will occur as the concentration inside the cell is half than outside, hence, water will move from the cytoplasm to the surrounding medium causing the cell to shrivel.
