Question

Define plasmolysis. Give an example from daily life.

Answer 1

Plasmolysis is when plant cells lose water after being placed in a solution that has a higher concentration of solutes than the cell does. This is known as a hypertonic solution. Water flows out of the cells and into the surrounding fluid due to osmosis. This causes the protoplasm, all the material on the inside of the cell, to shrink away from the cell wall. Severe water loss that leads to the collapse of the cell wall can result in cell death. Since osmosis is a process that requires no energy on the part of the cell and cannot be controlled, cells cannot stop plasmolysis from taking place.

        Although plasmolysis more commonly happens in a laboratory setting, it can happen in real-life settings as well. For example, during periods of extreme coastal flooding, ocean water deposits salt onto land. Too much salt causes the water to flow out of any plants on the affected land, killing them. Chemical weedicides are also used to kill unwanted plants through plasmolysis. This same process is also used when a lot of salt and/or sugar is added to preserve food and make jams, jellies, and pickles. The cells lose water and become less conducive to the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, allowing these food items to be preserved.

Answer 2

Plasmolysis is the process where a cell's contents shrink away from the cell wall when placed in a hypertonic solution.

An example is if red blood cells are placed in a strong salt solution.

Another example is when mango is put in a salt solution, the cells gets plasmolysed

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