Question

part a: which of the following statements best describes the results of the experiment?
a the solution in beaker #2 is hypotonic. water moved out of the cells causing them to swell.
b the solution in beaker #1 is hypotonic. water moved into the cells causing them to swell.
c the solution in beaker #1 is hypertonic. water moved out of the cells causing them to shrink.
d the solution in beaker #2 is hypertonic. water moved into the cells causing them to shrink.
part b: which of the following questions best explains what was observed in beaker...
a did the celery become turgid because it was placed in a hypotonic solution?
b did the celery become turgid because it was placed in a hypertonic solution?
c did the celery become plasmolyzed because it was placed in a hypertonic solution?
d did the celery become plasmolyzed because it was placed in a hypotonic solution?
(image of beaker #1 and #2 with celery is present)

Explanation:

Part A

To determine the correct statement, we analyze tonicity and osmosis. A hypotonic solution has a lower solute concentration than the cell, so water moves into the cell (causing swelling). A hypertonic solution has a higher solute concentration, so water moves out (causing shrinking). Beaker #1 likely has a hypotonic solution (water moves into celery cells, causing swelling), and Beaker #2 likely has a hypertonic solution (water moves out, causing shrinking). But among the options, option B states "The solution in Beaker #1 is hypotonic. Water moved into the cells causing them to swell," which matches the hypotonic - swelling mechanism. Option C would be for a hypertonic solution causing shrinking, A is incorrect for Beaker #2 (hypotonic would make water move in, not out), D is incorrect for Beaker #2 (hypertonic makes water move out, not in). So the best description for the result (assuming Beaker #1 is hypotonic) is option B.

Turgid cells result from water entering the cell (hypotonic solution, where the solution has less solute than the cell, so water moves in via osmosis, making the cell turgid). Plasmolyzed cells result from water leaving the cell (hypertonic solution, where the solution has more solute than the cell, so water moves out, causing the cell membrane to pull away from the cell wall). So if celery becomes turgid, it's because it was in a hypotonic solution (option A). If it becomes plasmolyzed, it's because it was in a hypertonic solution (option C). Assuming the observation is turgidity, option A is correct. If the observation was plasmolysis, option C. But typically, in a hypotonic solution (like pure water) celery cells become turgid. So the best explanation for turgidity is option A.

Answer:

B. The solution in Beaker #1 is hypotonic. Water moved into the cells causing them to swell.

Part B