When onion cells are placed in a 5% table salt solution, the plasma membranes shrink away from the cell walls. This results from the net movement of

Rationale

When onion cells are placed in a 5% table salt solution, the plasma membranes shrink away from the cell walls due to the net movement of water out of the onion cells.

This phenomenon occurs because the concentrated salt solution outside the cells creates a hypertonic environment, leading to the movement of water from the inside of the cells to the surrounding solution in an attempt to equalize solute concentrations.

A (water into the onion cells) YOUR ANSWER

Water would move into the onion cells if they were placed in a hypotonic solution, where the concentration of solutes is lower outside the cell. However, in this case, the salt solution is hypertonic, driving water out of the cells instead.

B (water out of the onion cells) CORRECT

This is the correct choice. In a 5% table salt solution, the high concentration of solutes outside the onion cells causes water to move out of the cells through osmosis, leading to the observed shrinkage of the plasma membrane.

C (salt into the onion cells) YOUR ANSWER

In a hypertonic solution, the movement of solutes like salt generally occurs less than the movement of water. Salt ions may diffuse into the cells, but the significant net movement in this scenario is that of water exiting the cells, not salt entering.

D (salt out of the onion cells) YOUR ANSWER

Salt moving out of the onion cells is unlikely in this scenario, as the salt concentration is higher outside the cells. The osmotic pressure primarily influences water movement, while the salt concentration gradient encourages water to leave the cells rather than salt.

Conclusion

The behavior of onion cells in a hypertonic salt solution illustrates the principle of osmosis, where water moves from areas of lower solute concentration to areas of higher solute concentration. In this case, water exits the cells, causing the plasma membranes to detach from the cell walls. Understanding this process is crucial for applications in biology and agriculture, where cell turgor is vital for plant health.

When onion cells are placed in a 5% table salt solution, the plasma membranes shrink away from the cell walls. This results from the net movement of

When onion cells are placed in a 5% table salt solution, the plasma membranes shrink away from the cell walls due to the net movement of water out of the onion cells.

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