Question

What will happen if a bacterial cell is placed in a hypotonic solution with penicillin?

Answer 1

Water diffuses from a solution having a higher concentration to a solution having a lower concentration. The process is known as osmosis. When water flows from the cell to the outside, it is called exosmosis. While water flows from outside to the cell and is called endosmosis.

Complete answer:
A solution having a lower concentration than another solution is called a hypotonic solution. When a cell has more solute concentration than the solution present at its outside, then the solution is said to be a hypotonic solution. Usually, in a hypotonic solution, the water potential of the cell is less than the solution. Thus water diffuses into the cell and it becomes turgid. When a bacterial cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, water flows into the cell. This causes the cells to be excess of water and swelling occurs, rupturing the cell of the bacterium. While penicillin is a kind of antibiotic, which ruptures the cell wall. As the protective cell wall of bacterium degenerates due to penicillin, thus fluids are accumulated and the cell membrane could not stand its pressure. Finally, the cell will burst due to endosmosis.

Note:
-The hypotonic solution has a lower solute concentration.
-Water potential of the hypotonic solution is high as compared to the cell.
-The direction of water-flow is from the hypotonic solution towards the hypertonic solution.