Question

carrot slices placed in a 0.2 m salt solution for several hours become flaccid (limp). carrot slices placed in fresh water for several hours become turgid (stiff). from this we can deduce that...
the fresh water and the salt solution are both hypertonic to the cells of the carrot slices.
the fresh water and the salt solution are both hypotonic to the cells of the carrot slices.
the fresh water is hypertonic and the salt solution is hypotonic to the cells of the carrot slices.
the fresh water is hypotonic and the salt solution is hypertonic to the cells of the carrot slices.
the fresh water is isotonic and the salt solution is hypertonic to the cells of the carrot slices.

Explanation:

• Hypertonic solution: A solution with a higher solute concentration than the cell's interior. When a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, water moves out of the cell (osmosis), causing the cell to become flaccid (as in the case of the carrot slice in the \(0.2M\) salt solution).
• Hypotonic solution: A solution with a lower solute concentration than the cell's interior. When a cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, water moves into the cell (osmosis), causing the cell to become turgid (as in the case of the carrot slice in fresh water).
• Isotonic solution: A solution with the same solute concentration as the cell's interior. There is no net movement of water in an isotonic solution.

Since the carrot slice in the \(0.2M\) salt solution lost water (became flaccid) and the slice in fresh water gained water (became turgid), the salt solution is hypertonic (higher solute concentration outside the cell) and fresh water is hypotonic (lower solute concentration outside the cell) to the carrot cells.

Answer:

the fresh water is hypotonic and the salt solution is hypertonic to the cells of the carrot slices.