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 during osmosis in the solution? a) the cell will shrink because water will move from an area of low solute concentration to high solute concentration. b) the cell will swell because water will move from an area of low solute concentration to high solute concentration. c) the cell will swell because water will move from an area of high solute concentration to low solute concentration. d) the cell will shrink because water will move from an area of high solute concentration to low solute concentration.

Explanation:

1. First, recall the concept of osmosis: water moves from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration (or from high water potential to low water potential).
2. The cell has a solute concentration of 10%, and the beaker solution has a solute concentration of 20%. So, the cell has a lower solute concentration (higher water concentration) compared to the beaker solution.
3. According to osmosis, water will move from the cell (low solute concentration area) to the beaker solution (high solute concentration area). As water leaves the cell, the cell will shrink.
4. Now analyze each option:

• Option A: Says water moves from low to high solute concentration (correct direction for water movement in osmosis) and the cell shrinks (correct as water leaves the cell). Let's check other options to be sure.
• Option B: Says water moves from low to high solute concentration but the cell swells. If water moves out, the cell should shrink, not swell. So B is incorrect.
• Option C: Says water moves from high to low solute concentration, which is the opposite of osmosis. And it says the cell swells, which is wrong. So C is incorrect.
• Option D: Says water moves from high to low solute concentration, which is incorrect. So D is wrong.

Answer:

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