A cell is dropped into a saltwater solution and shrivels up. You infer that, compared to the cell, the type of saltwater solution is(1 point)
Responses
hypotonic.
hypotonic.
isotonic.
isotonic.
tonic.
tonic.
hypertonic.
hypertonic.
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The correct answer is hypertonic.
The correct inference is that the type of saltwater solution is hypertonic.
To answer this question, we need to understand the concepts of hypertonic, isotonic, and hypotonic solutions in relation to the cell.
- In a hypotonic solution, there is a lower concentration of solutes (such as salt) outside the cell compared to inside the cell. As a result, water moves into the cell by osmosis, causing it to swell and sometimes burst. Since the cell in this scenario shriveled up, we can infer that the solution is not hypotonic.
- In an isotonic solution, the concentration of solutes outside the cell is the same as inside the cell. Water moves in and out of the cell at an equal rate, resulting in no net change in cell size. Since the cell shriveled up in this scenario, we can infer that the solution is not isotonic.
- In a hypertonic solution, there is a higher concentration of solutes outside the cell compared to inside the cell. Water moves out of the cell by osmosis, causing it to shrink or shrivel. Since the cell in this scenario shriveled up, we can infer that the type of saltwater solution is hypertonic.
Therefore, the correct answer is hypertonic.