Question

Plasmolysis occurs due to?
A. Adsorption
B. Endosmosis
C. Absorption
D. Exosmosis

Answer 1

The process in which the water molecules move from a higher concentration region of the cell to the lower concentration region of the surroundings through the cell membrane is termed as Exosmosis. The cell shrinks, due to exosmosis. This usually happens when a cell is kept in the hypertonic solution. Hypertonic solution is a solution with higher solute concentration. Exosmosis is also known as plasmolysis.

Complete answer:
Option (A) : Adsorption
The adhesion of atoms, ions or molecules from a gas, liquid or dissolved solid to a surface is known as Adsorption. This process of adsorption creates a film of the adsorbate on the surface of the adsorbent. This process is totally different from the process of absorption, as in absorption fluid is dissolved by or permeates a liquid or solid, respectively.

Option (B) : Endosmosis
The movement of the water inside the cells when the cell is placed in a hypotonic solution is known as Endosmosis. In this movement of water, the cell gets swelled up.

Option (C) : Absorption
A condition in which something takes in another substance is known as absorption. In many processes which are important in technology, the chemical absorption is used in the place of physical processes, say, for example, absorption of carbon dioxide by sodium hydroxide – such kind of acid-base processes do not follow the Nernst partition law.

Option (D) : Exosmosis
The transfer of a solvent from the inside to the outside of the cell through a plasma membrane especially when the cell is placed in a hypertonic solution with more solute and less solvent is known as Exosmosis.

Hence, The correct answer is option (D).

Note: Plasmolysis is the process in which the cells lose water in a hypertonic solution. The reverse process of plasmolysis is deplasmolysis or cytolysis, which occurs when the cell is in a hypotonic solution and results in a lower external osmotic pressure and a net flow of water into the cell.