Question

Cells of onion peel and RBC are separately kept in a hypotonic solution, what among the following will take place?
a. Both the cells will swell
b. RBC will burst easily while cells of onion peel will resist the bursting to some extent
c. RBC and onion peel cells will behave similarly
d. Both A and B

Answer 1

Hint: A hypotonic solution is defined as a solution that has lower osmotic pressure than the other solution. Which means the solution which has less solutes and more water content as compared to the other solution.

Complete answer:
When the cells of onion peel and RBC are separately kept in a hypotonic solution, the process of endosmosis occurs. Endosmosis is the movement of water inside the cells as there are more solutes inside the cells and which result in increase in water potential outside the cell which result in movement of water outside the cell into the cell. Therefore, when a hypotonic solution enters both the cells of onion peel and RBC they both will swell as the concentration of solutes in both onion peel and RBC is high which leads to accumulation of hypotonic solution in both the cells due to osmosis phenomenon. RBC cells will burst after swelling as it does not have a rigid cell wall and thus results in bursting of the cell whereas onion peel will resist the bursting to some extent as it contains the rigid cell wall in it which is stronger as compared to plasma membrane of the RBC cell.

Hence, The correct answer is option (D).

Note:There are three types of solutions which are- Isotonic solution which contains equal amount of solutes and water when compared to other solutions. Hypertonic solution which contains more solutes and less amount of water as compared to the other solution. Hypotonic solution which contains less amount of solutes and more amount of water as compared to other solutions.