Question

1. now lets look at an example in a plant cell from a leaf. use the slider to examine a plant cell before and after the plant was watered with very salty water. after watering with salt water, the plant wilted. propose an explanation as to why the plant wilted using evidence from the cell diagrams.

Explanation:

When salty water is added, the external environment has a higher solute - concentration than the plant cells. Through osmosis, water moves out of the plant cells (from an area of lower solute - concentration inside the cell to an area of higher solute - concentration outside). This causes the cells to lose turgor pressure. In plant cells, turgor pressure is what keeps the plant upright. Without sufficient turgor pressure, the plant wilts.

Answer:

The plant wilted because the salty water created a hypertonic environment outside the plant cells. Water then moved out of the cells via osmosis, reducing turgor pressure and causing the plant to wilt.