Question

Which of the following occupies the space between the cell wall and the shrunken protoplast in a plasmolyzed cell?
(A) Isotonic solution
(B) Hypotonic solution
(C) Hypertonic solution
(D) Water

Answer 1

When there is a greater number of solutes present in the solution surrounding the cell , the cell shrinks as it loses water and the solution which has a greater number of solutes gets entered from the cell wall.

Complete step by step answer:
This movement of water in and out of the cell by osmosis is known as Tonicity.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. A plant cell kept in a hypertonic solution got plasmolysed.

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 solutes 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 ‘(B) 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.