Question

choosing a soil, then which type of solution for a plant to thrive.

• student a claims: \i think plants do best in a hypotonic solution because water will enter the cells, keeping them firm and healthy.\
• student b claims: \im not sure. maybe plants would do better in an isotonic solution since the water movement would be balanced and nothing would swell too much.\

which student incorrectly predicts how a plant cell responds to solutions?
a) student a is correct because plant cells have a rigid cell wall that allows them to stay turgid in a hypotonic solution.
b) student b is correct because plant cells would maintain their shape better in an isotonic solution.
c) student b is correct because isotonic solutions prevent any water from entering or leaving the plant cells.
d) student a is correct because plant cells have a central vacuole that prevents them from drying up in a hypotonic solution.

Explanation:

To determine the correct student, we analyze plant cell responses to solutions:

• Hypotonic solution: Plant cells have a rigid cell wall. When water enters (via osmosis, as the cell’s solute concentration is higher than the solution), the cell wall prevents bursting and keeps the cell turgid (firm). This matches Student A’s reasoning.
• Student B’s claim about isotonic solutions is incorrect: Isotonic solutions have balanced water movement, but plant cells rely on turgor from hypotonic environments (e.g., soil is often hypotonic to root cells).
• Student C’s “isotonic prevents water movement” is wrong (water still moves, just equally in/out), and Student D’s “central vacuole prevents drying” misinterprets the vacuole’s role (it stores water, but turgor comes from the cell wall in hypotonic solutions).

Answer:

A. Student A is correct because plant cells have a rigid cell wall that allows them to stay turgid in a hypotonic solution.