Question

What would happen to a plant cell placed in a hypotonic solution?
A. Lyse
B. Swell but remain intact
C. Shrivel
D. Remain unchanged
E. Take up solutes

Answer 1

Hint: A hypotonic solution is a solution which contains less concentration of solutes as compared to other solutions. The hypotonic solution has more water compared to other solutions. A solution can be hypotonic, hypertonic, or isotonic only when present with another solution.

Complete step by step answer:
Hypotonic solution is a description of the solute content of one solution when compared with the other solution. Due to the phenomenon of osmosis, the water gradient along with the solute gradient is formed between two solutions. The solutes and solvents are evenly distributed in two solutions due to diffusion. Plant cells have a rigid cell wall which helps them to have a rigid structure. When the plant cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, the process of osmosis takes place. Which results in the movement of water from the hypotonic solution into the plant cell. This occurs because the hypotonic solution has more water in it as compared to the plant cell and due to diffusion, the water will enter into the plant cell wall and membrane. When a lot of water moves into the cell of a plant, it leads to swelling of the plant cell. Due to the presence of a rigid cell wall, the plant cell does not burst and remains intact and cells become turgid.
Hence, the correct option is B. Swell but remain intact.

Note: When the same experiment is done with the animal cell, the water from the hypotonic solution enters into the animal cell which results in the bursting of the animal cell. The animal cell burst because it lacks the rigid cell wall like plants.