Question

What would be the Ψp​ of a flaccid cell?
(1) Positive
(2) Negative
(3) Zero
(4) Cannot be determined

Answer 1

Hint The potential energy of water per unit volume in comparison to pure water in reference conditions is known as water potential. The tendency of water to migrate from one place to another as a result of osmosis, gravity, mechanical pressure, and matrix effects such as capillary action is measured by water potential.

Complete answer:
Understanding and computing water movement inside plants, animals, and soil has been made easier thanks to the idea of water potential. The Greek letter is frequently used to indicate water potential, which is normally expressed in potential energy per unit volume.
Water potential combines a number of various potential water flow factors that may operate in the same or opposite directions. Many potential causes may be at work in complicated biological systems at the same time.
The addition of solutes, for example, reduces the potential (negative vector), whereas a rise in pressure raises the potential (positive vector) (positive vector). Water will flow from a higher water potential area to a lower water potential area if flow is not controlled.
Water with dissolved salt, such as sea water or the fluid in a live cell, is a common example.
The positive pressure created in a cell as a result of water entering by osmosis is referred to as pressure potential. Because water penetrates the protoplast, which causes turgor pressure, the pressure potential in a turgid cell is usually positive.
Because the water potential and pressure potential within a flaccid cell are identical, the pressure potential of a flaccid cell is normally zero. As a result, a flaccid cell's pressure potential is zero.

Option C is the correct answer.

Note: In comparison to pure water, these solutions have a negative water potential. Water will flow from the locus of larger potential to the locus of lesser potential if there is no constraint on flow. Flow will continue until the difference in potential is equalised or balanced by another water potential component, such as pressure or elevation.