Question

a cell with a solute concentration of 10% is placed in a beaker solution with a solute concentration of 20%. which of the following statements best describes what will happen to the cell after sitting in the solution? a the cell will shrink because water will move from an area of high solute concentration to low solute concentration. b the cell will swell because water will move from an area of high solute concentration to low solute concentration. c the cell will swell because water will move from an area of low solute concentration to high solute concentration. d the cell will shrink because water will move from an area of low solute concentration to high solute concentration.

Explanation:

Osmosis is the movement of water from an area of low solute concentration (higher water concentration) to an area of high solute concentration (lower water concentration). The cell has a lower solute concentration (10%) compared to the beaker solution (20%). So water will move from the cell (area of low solute - high water) to the beaker (area of high solute - low water), causing the cell to shrink.

Answer:

A. The cell will shrink because water will move from an area of low solute concentration to high solute concentration.