Question

If cells of onion peel and RBC are separately kept in hypotonic solution,
what among the following will take place? Explain the reason for your
answer.
(a) Both the cells will swell.
(b) RBC will burst easily while cells of onion peel will resist the bursting to
some extent.
(c) a and b both are correct.
(d) RBC and onion peel cells will behave similarly.

Answer 1

(b) RBC will burst easily while cells of onion peel will resist the bursting to
some extent.
Though both the cells will swell up but his phenomena RBC will burst because excessive water will enter the RBC which the cell cannot withstand thus causing it to burst; this would not occur in the cells of the onion peel as they are able to withstand it.

Answer 2

Explanation:

When kept in hypotonic solution the RBCs burst easily because they are animal cells and do not possess cell wall, while the RBC burst when kept in onion peel possess cell wall which makes it resistant to the bursting due to swelling caused by endosmosis. Therefore, option (c) is correct.