Question

A plant cell kept in a certain solution got plasmolyzed. What was the nature of the solution?

Answer 1

Plasmolysis in the plant cell is defined as the process in which cells lose water when placed in a specific solution. This leads to the shrinkage of the cell and it moves away from the cell wall.

Complete answer:
A plant cell kept in a solution got plasmolyzed, this means that the solution was hypertonic. Hypertonic solution is a solution that has a lower water potential as compared to the cell so water starts moving out of it and the cell shrinks. The hypertonic solution contains a higher concentration of solutes as compared to other solutions.
- This movement of water in and out of the cell by osmosis is known as Tonicity.
- To compare the osmolarity of the cell three terms are used i.e,
- Hypotonic- Hypo means less than. The hypotonic solution contains less number of particles or solutes compared to the cell. So in this water movement will be into the cell and the cell will swell and may lead to cell bursting also.
- Hypertonic- Hyper means greater than. The hypertonic solution contains a greater number of solute particles than normally present in a cell. So in this, water moves out of the cell and the cell shrinks.
- Isotonic – Iso means the same. An isotonic solution contains the same number of solutes molecules as present in the cell. So, there will be no net movement of water in or out from the cell.

So, the correct answer is ‘Hypertonic solution’.

Note: Few commonly used hypertonic solutions are-
Saline solution-commonly used in the medical field. A solution consisting of 5% dextrose (sugar) and 0.45% sodium chloride. Corn syrup is also used as a hypertonic solution.