Ok so these are the questions I have been asked on a biology sheet.
Give an explanation (in terms of osmosis) for the fate of each of the following cells:
a) a marine alga cell washed in the freshwater environment
b) a marine protozoan cell in freshwater
c) a freshwater alga cell in the marine environment
Thankyou in advance !!!
Give an explanation (in terms of osmosis) for the fate of each of the following cells:
a) a marine alga cell washed in the freshwater environment
b) a marine protozoan cell in freshwater
c) a freshwater alga cell in the marine environment
Thankyou in advance !!!
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a) a marine alga cell washed in the freshwater environment
The solution is hypotonic or to put it in other words it has less solutes or less dissolved in it than the cell. That means that the water concentration is higher outside than in the cell since there is less things (other than water) dissolved in the water outside the cell. The water then diffuses across the semipermeable membrane from the higher water concentration into the cell so the cell will expand until it bursts unless the cell walls prevent it. If that is the case it will get crispy or hard from turgor pressure.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turgor_pres…
b) a marine protozoan cell in freshwater
The same thing will apply. If there isn't any sort of cell wall the cell will expand and probably burst.
c) a freshwater alga cell in the marine environment
The water is hypertonic or there are more solutes so the water will diffuse out of the cell. It will wilt and/or shrink.
The solution is hypotonic or to put it in other words it has less solutes or less dissolved in it than the cell. That means that the water concentration is higher outside than in the cell since there is less things (other than water) dissolved in the water outside the cell. The water then diffuses across the semipermeable membrane from the higher water concentration into the cell so the cell will expand until it bursts unless the cell walls prevent it. If that is the case it will get crispy or hard from turgor pressure.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turgor_pres…
b) a marine protozoan cell in freshwater
The same thing will apply. If there isn't any sort of cell wall the cell will expand and probably burst.
c) a freshwater alga cell in the marine environment
The water is hypertonic or there are more solutes so the water will diffuse out of the cell. It will wilt and/or shrink.