What happens to the plant cell in a hypertonic solution?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the effects of a hypertonic solution on plant cells. A hypertonic solution has a higher solute concentration compared to the inside of the cell, which leads to water moving out of the cell, causing it to shrink or undergo plasmolysis.
Answer
The plant cell undergoes plasmolysis and shrivels.
When a plant cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, it loses water through osmosis leading to plasmolysis, where the plasma membrane pulls away from the cell wall and the cell becomes shriveled.
Answer for screen readers
When a plant cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, it loses water through osmosis leading to plasmolysis, where the plasma membrane pulls away from the cell wall and the cell becomes shriveled.
More Information
Plasmolysis is a critical process where the cell membrane detaches from the cell wall due to water loss in hypertonic solutions, leading to cell shrinkage.
Tips
A common mistake is confusing plasmolysis with cytolysis; the latter occurs in a hypotonic solution and leads to cell swelling.
Sources
- What will happen to a plant cell placed in a hypertonic solution? - toppr.com
- Discuss the effects when a plant cell is kept in hypotonic and hypertonic solution - byjus.com
- Osmosis - Biology LibreTexts - bio.libretexts.org
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