Question

Which of the following statements are true/false?
a. The positive hydrostatic pressure is called turgor pressure.
b. Wall pressure exerts to prevent the increase of protoplasm size.
c. Diffusion is more rapid in liquids than in gases.
d. The diffusion of water through a semipermeable membrane is called imbibition.
e. Osmosis is the movement of substances, which takes place along a diffusion gradient.
A. a and b are true and c, d, and e are false
B. a and c are true and b, d, and e are false
C. a and e are true and b, c, and d are false
D. a, d and e are true and a and b are false

Answer 1

In plants there are various method available for transport of molecules. Diffusion is a process of movement of molecules from one place to another in a concentration gradient. Imbibition is the adsorption of molecules over an adsorbent surface.

Complete answer: To find out which if the given statement is true or false, let us discuss each option in detail.
-Statement (a) is that positive hydrostatic pressure is called turgor pressure. The turgor pressure is the pressure exerted on the walls of a cell due to the liquid or fluid present in it. Thus, it is true that turgor pressure is positive hydrostatic pressure applied by swelled protoplasm on the cell wall. Therefore, it is correct.
-Statement (b) says that wall pressure exerts to prevent an increase in protoplasm. It is true as when the protoplasm swells and applies pressure over the cell wall, the cell wall exerts equal pressure on the protoplasm pushing it back. Thus, this mechanism prevents an increase in the size of protoplasm. Hence, it is correct.
-Statement (c) says that diffusion is faster in gases as compared to liquids. Diffusion is the movement of molecules through a concentration gradient from one place to another. It is a slow process that takes place in all states of matter. Its rate does not change with change in the state of matter. Thus, this statement is incorrect.
-Statement (d) says that imbibition is a process involving the diffusion of water through a semipermeable membrane. This process is osmosis, not imbibition. Imbibition is a process that involves the adsorption of materials over an adsorbant surface. Thus, this statement is also incorrect.
-Statement (e) is that movement of substances along a diffusion gradient is called osmosis. This is called diffusion, not osmosis. Osmosis is the process of movement of water molecules through a semipermeable membrane along a concentration gradient. So, this statement is incorrect.
Hence, we can conclude that statements (a) and (b) are true and statements (c), (d), and (e) are false.
So, option A is the right answer.

Note: Osmosis, turgor pressure, diffusion, and imbibition are some important processes that happen in a cell. All of these are related to the semipermeable membrane of cells that allows selective movement and attachment of substances through and on its surface. The membrane is the cell membrane or the phospholipid bilayer.