Question

What happens when a cell is placed in hypertonic solution?
A. Endosmosis
B. Exosmosis
C. Deplasmolysis
D. Imbibition

Answer 1

Hint: The movement of water inside and outside of the cell is called tonicity. When a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution (having more solutes than normal cells), the cell shrinks as water moves out. Initially, water moves out from cytoplasm and secondly, moves out from the vacuole. This process is known as exosmosis, which will lead to a plasmolysis process.

Complete answer
For the comparison of osmolarity of the cell, three terms are used. They are hypotonic, hypertonic and isotonic.
Hypotonic – Hypo means less than. Hypotonic solution has a lesser number of particles than the normal cell. Here, water from outside enters the cell, which leads to swelling of the cell. The cell may burst also.
Isotonic – Iso means the same. Isotonic solution has the same number of solutes or particles compared to normal cells. Here, there is no net movement of water in and out of the cell.
Hypertonic – Hyper means greater than. Greater number of solute particles are present, when compared to the normal cell. Here, water passes out of the cell, which leads to shrinkage of the cell.
In isotonic solution, the cell becomes flaccid and in the hypotonic solution, the cell becomes turgid. In hypertonic solution, the cell becomes shrunk.
Option A Endosmosis: Endosmosis occurs in hypotonic solution.
Option A is not correct
Option B Exosmosis: Exosmosis takes place in a hypertonic solution.
Hence, Option B is correct
Option C Deplasmolysis: It is the reversal of plasmolysis
So, Option C is not correct
Option D Imbibition: It is the absorption of one compound by another
Option D is not correct

Hence, Option B is the correct answer

Note:
Saline solution, which is used in the medical field, is an example of hypertonic solution. Corn syrup is also an example of a hypertonic solution. Hypertonic solution possesses lower water potential, when compared to the normal cell. When the cell is placed inside a hypertonic solution, water will begin to move out of the cell and the cell will shrink. This loss of water from the cell is known as plasmolysis and the cell becomes plasmolyzed.