Question

Now let's look at an example in a plant cell from a leaf. Use the slider to examine a plant cell before and after the plant was watered with very salty water. After watering with salt water, the plant wilted. Propose an explanation as to why the plant wilted using evidence from the cell diagrams.

Answer 1

Answer:

Because the cell is hypotonic in comparison to the salt water. It has less solute, so the water floods the salt water to make it isotonic. It is essentially drained from its water.

Explanation:

The cell is hypotonic (meaning it has less of a solute than whatever is hypertonic.) The salt water is hypertonic (meaning it has more solute.) TO make both solutions isotonic, the ratio of the water to solute needs to be the same in both A and B. Only water can move, so the plant is extracted of its water in hopes of making the ratio the same or similar.

Answer 2

If you place an animal or a plant cell in a hypertonic solution, the cell shrinks, because it loses water.

Explanation:

• Water moves from a higher concentration inside the cell to a lower concentration outside.
• So if you get thirsty at the beach drinking seawater makes you even more dehydrated.
• In a hypertonic solution a cell with a cell wall will lose water too.
• The plasma membrane pulls away from the cell wall as it shrivels, a process called plasmolysis.
• Animal cells tend to do best in an isotonic environment, plant cells tend to do best in a hypotonic environment.
• Some plant cells synthesize and store organic products, while others help to transport nutrients throughout the plant.
• Some examples of specialized plant cell types and tissues include: parenchyma cells, collenchyma cells, sclerenchyma cells, xylem, and phloem.