Question

1. a cell whose cytoplasm has a concentration of 0.02 molar glucose is placed in a test tube of water containing 0.02 molar glucose. assuming that glucose is not actively transported into the cell, which of the following terms describes the tonicity of the external solution relative to the cytoplasm of the cell?

a. turgid
b. hypertonic
c. hypotonic
d. isotonic

1. will the cell in question #7 shrink, swell or stay the same if it is left in the test tube of water? justify your response.

Explanation:

Question 10

Tonicity depends on solute concentration. Isotonic solutions have equal solute concentrations inside and outside the cell. Here, both the cell's cytoplasm and the external solution have 0.02 molar glucose, so the external solution is isotonic relative to the cell. Turgid refers to a cell's state, hypertonic has higher external solute, hypotonic has lower external solute.

Since the external solution (test tube water with 0.02 molar glucose) and the cell's cytoplasm have the same glucose (solute) concentration, the solution is isotonic. In an isotonic environment, there is no net movement of water across the cell membrane (osmosis) because the water potential is equal on both sides. So the cell will stay the same as there's no net water gain or loss.

Answer:

d. isotonic

Question 11