Question

Exosmosis may cause bursting of a cell.

Is this statement tru or false?​

Answer 1

Answer:

The statement is false.

Explanation:

Types of solutions on the basis of Osmotic pressure:

Osmotic pressure may be defined as the pressure that must be applied in opposite direction on the solution side to prevent the movement of solvent molecules across a semi-permeable membrane into a compartment having pure solvent.

If we compare two solutions separated by a semi-permeable membrane (in this case a cell kept in a solution, and the plasma membrane of the cell will act as the semi-permeable membrane), then w.r.t. each other, the cells can be:

1. Isotonic: Both the cytoplasm and solution exert the same osmotic pressure and there is no net movement of solvent molecules.
2. Hypertonic: The solution outside the cell is more concentrated than the cytoplasm of the cell and so exerts greater osmotic pressure than the cytoplasm of the cell.
   Thus, a net movement of solvent molecules is seen from the cytoplasm towards the outside of the cell. The cell eventually shrinks and this phenomenon is also referred to as exosmosis.
3. Hypotonic: The solution outside the cell is more diluted than the cytoplasm of the cell and so exerts lesser osmotic pressure than the cytoplasm of the cell.
   Thus, the solvent molecule flows from the outside to the inside of the cell. The cell eventually swells and this phenomenon is also referred to as endosmosis.
   A greater difference in osmotic pressure may lead to swelling up of cells beyond limits, which may result in the bursting of the cell (haemolysis in the case of RBCs).

#SPJ3