Question

the image on the left shows a normal red blood cell, and the image on the right shows a cell that has been put into a new solution. the circles represent the salt in the solutions. which statement describes the motion of the water molecules in this situation? the cell membrane uses energy to move water into the cell from low water concentration to high water concentration. the water molecules move by osmosis into the cell from low water concentration to high water concentration. the water molecules move by osmosis into the cell from high water concentration to low water concentration. the cell membrane uses energy to move water out of the cell from low water concentration to high water concentration.

Explanation:

1. First, analyze osmosis: Osmosis is the passive (no energy) movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of high water concentration (low solute) to low water concentration (high solute).
2. Compare the two cells: The left has more salt (solute) outside, so the right solution has less salt (so higher water concentration outside the right cell? Wait, no—wait, the right cell looks swollen, meaning water entered it. So the outside solution (right) has lower salt concentration (more water) than inside the cell? Wait, no: when a cell swells, water moves into it, so the outside must have higher water concentration (lower solute) than inside. Wait, the left image: many salt circles (high solute outside), normal cell. Right image: fewer salt circles outside (low solute outside, so high water outside), cell is swollen (water entered). So water moves from high water (outside, low solute) to low water (inside, high solute) via osmosis (passive, no energy).
3. Evaluate options:

• Option 1: Says cell membrane uses energy (active transport), but osmosis is passive. Wrong.
• Option 2: Says "low to high water"—but osmosis is high to low water (since water moves to where it's less). Wait, no: water concentration is inverse of solute. So high water = low solute. So if outside has high water (low solute) and inside has low water (high solute), water moves from high (outside) to low (inside). So the option that says "from high water concentration to low water concentration" is correct. Wait, let's recheck the options:
• Option 3: "The water molecules move by osmosis into the cell from high water concentration to low water concentration." Yes! Because osmosis is passive, water moves from high water (where there's more water, i.e., low solute) to low water (where there's less water, i.e., high solute). The cell swells, so water entered: outside (right solution) has higher water (lower salt) than inside the cell, so water moves into the cell (from high water outside to low water inside).
• Option 4: Says energy is used to move water out—wrong direction and wrong process (osmosis is passive, and cell is swelling, not shrinking).

So the correct option is the third one (the one stating water moves by osmosis into the cell from high to low water concentration).

Answer:

The water molecules move by osmosis into the cell from high water concentration to low water concentration. (The third option in the list)