Which of the following will occur if a prokaryotic cell is placed in a solution that has a higher concentration of solutes (that cannot readily diffuse across the plasma membrane) than does the cytoplasm of the cell?

Question

Chemistry

Elena Barajas

23 July, 15:27

Which of the following will occur if a prokaryotic cell is placed in a solution that has a higher concentration of solutes (that cannot readily diffuse across the plasma membrane) than does the cytoplasm of the cell?

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Fresier · Answer 1

This Question is incomplete

Explanation:

What is needed to be understood here is the concept of hypertonic and hypotonic solutions and their effects on cells.

Hypertonic solution is a solution in which the concentration of the solutes outside of the cell is greater than inside (in the cytoplasm) of the cell while hypotonic solution is a solution in which the concentration of solutes inside of the cell (in the cytoplasm) is greater than outside of the cell.

From the above, we can deduce that the question is about the effect of placing a prokaryotic cell in a hypertonic solution. When a prokaryotic cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, water moves (through osmosis) from inside of the cell to the outside environment causing the prokaryotic cell to shrink.