Question

this human cell has a 70% water concentration. it was placed into a solution of distilled water. over time, what will happen to the cell?water will move into the cell from the beaker, causing the cell to swell.salt will move from the cell into the beaker, causing the cell to shrink.salt will move into the cell, causing the cell to swell.water will move from the cell into the beaker, causing the cell to shrink.

Explanation:

1. First, analyze the water and solute (like salt) concentrations: The human cell has 70% water, so the solute concentration inside the cell is higher than in distilled water (which has almost 100% water, very low solute).
2. Then, recall osmosis: Water moves across a semi - permeable membrane (cell membrane) from an area of lower solute concentration (higher water concentration, distilled water) to an area of higher solute concentration (inside the cell).
3. Evaluate the other options:

• Option B: Salt (solute) movement is not the main factor here, and water would not move out to make the cell shrink in this case.
• Option C: Salt does not move into the cell in this osmotic scenario (distilled water has no salt to move in), and the driving force is water movement, not salt movement for swelling.
• Option D: The water concentration is higher in the beaker (distilled water) than in the cell, so water should move into the cell, not out.

Answer:

A. Water will move into the cell from the beaker, causing the cell to swell.