Question

a student used a microscope to observe a wet - mount slide of red onion epidermal cells that were suspended in a 1% nacl solution. the student then added a 15% nacl solution to the slide and observed the changes that occurred. the students observations are represented in figure 1. figure 1 students observations of onion cells original wet - mount slide after adding 15% nacl which of the following most directly explains the changes in the cells? the lysis of chloroplasts in the cells the degradation of dna in the nuclei of the cells the movement of water from the central vacuoles of the cells into the solution the movement of nacl from the solution into the cytoplasm of the cells

Explanation:

Step1: Understand osmosis concept

Osmosis is the movement of water across a semi - permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.

Step2: Analyze cell and solution conditions

The cells were initially in a 1% NaCl solution and then 15% NaCl solution was added. The 15% NaCl solution is hypertonic compared to the cell's internal environment.

Step3: Determine water movement

Water will move out of the central vacuoles of the cells into the hypertonic 15% NaCl solution. This causes the cells to plasmolyze as seen in the figure.

Answer:

The movement of water from the central vacuoles of the cells into the solution