Question

(d) Using the term water potential, explain why the onions:
gained mass when soaked in dilute solutions of sodium chloride​

Answer 1

when soaked in dilute sodium chloride solution onion gain mass because of the process of osmosis. Explanation: Osmosis is a process when there is movement of water from the region of comparatively higher concentration to the region of lower concentration across in a permeable membrane.

Answer 2

Onions gained mass when soaked in dilute solutions of sodium chloride because of a phenomenon called osmosis.

• The tendency of water to migrate from one place to another due to osmosis, gravity, mechanical pressure, and matrix effects like capillary action is measured by water potential.​
• Osmosis is the process of moving water across a permeable membrane from an area of relatively higher concentration to a region of lower concentration.
• When onions are soaked in hypertonic solutions like dil, their cells are kept in an isotonic condition. Water will be transported into the cells to maintain water potential. Onions grow weight as a result of this.
• The onion has low water potential as compared to dilute solution of sodium chloride, so water moves to onion and it gains weight.

Hence, it is due to osmosis.

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