Question

In hypertonic solution , water potential of cell-
A) Increases
B) Decreases
C) First increases and then decreases
D) Remains unchanged

Answer 1

Hint:A hypertonic solution has greater concentration of solutes than another solution. When a cell is immersed in a hypertonic solution ,osmotic pressure tends to force water to flow out of the cell in order to flow out of the cell in order to balance the concentration of the solutes on either side of the all membrane.

Complete Answer:
Option A- Increase- If a cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, then water will flow outside to the inside part of the cell. This increases the water concentration inside the molecules of the cell. Hence , in a hypotonic solution water potential of the cell increases.
Option B- Decrease- if a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution , then water will flow from inside the cell to outside , this will decrease the concentration of water molecules inside the cell . Hence , when the water moves out , the water potential decreases.
Option C- First increase and second decrease- In the three levels of tonicity – hypertonic , hypotonic & isotonic solutions the water potential decreases , increases and remains the same .
Option D- Remains unchanged- In isotonic solution the water potential of the cell remains unchanged , the solutions on either side of the cell membrane are equal which results in neither swelling nor shrinking of the cell.

Hence option ‘B’ is the correct answer.

Note:A hypertonic solution is the type of solution in which concentration of solute is more than the solvent.Examples:-Saline solution, or a solution that contains salts, is hypertonic.