Question 117

An animal cell is placed in a sufficiently dilute external solution for long enough to show a strong osmotic effect. What may happen?

It gains water and may burst.Correct answer
It loses water and becomes plasmolysed.
It becomes permanently rigid because of a cell wall.
It pumps all water out using ATP.

Explanation

Water enters the animal cell by osmosis, increasing its volume until it may rupture if the influx is large enough. Becoming turgid without bursting is associated with support from a cell wall, which animal cells lack.

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