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Question
how does a plant cell fight osmosis in a hypotonic solution?
In a hypotonic solution, water enters the plant cell via osmosis. Plant cells have a rigid cell wall. As water enters, the vacuole swells, and the cell membrane pushes against the cell wall. The cell wall exerts an opposing pressure (turgor pressure) that counteracts the influx of water, preventing the cell from bursting (unlike animal cells without a cell wall). This turgor pressure, along with the cell wall's structural support, helps the plant cell "fight" osmosis - related over - expansion.
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A plant cell fights osmosis in a hypotonic solution through its rigid cell wall. When water enters the cell via osmosis (due to the lower solute concentration outside the cell), the cell membrane pushes against the cell wall. The cell wall exerts a counter - pressure (turgor pressure) that resists further water intake and prevents the cell from bursting, while the large central vacuole also helps regulate water balance and maintain cell structure during this process.