Question
When a human cell is placed in salt water, it shrinks. This is said to be due to osmosis. What’s happening to make the cell shrink?
a. solutes are being pulled into the cell.
b. water is diffusing across the plasma membrane from a region of high (outside the cell) to low (inside the cell) water concentration.
c. solutes are being drawn into the cell across the plasma membrane.
d. water is diffusing across the plasma membrane from a region of high (inside the cell) to low (outside the cell) water concentration.
Group of answer choices
b
a
d
c
a. solutes are being pulled into the cell.
b. water is diffusing across the plasma membrane from a region of high (outside the cell) to low (inside the cell) water concentration.
c. solutes are being drawn into the cell across the plasma membrane.
d. water is diffusing across the plasma membrane from a region of high (inside the cell) to low (outside the cell) water concentration.
Group of answer choices
b
a
d
c
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The correct option that explains why a human cell shrinks when placed in salt water is:
**d. water is diffusing across the plasma membrane from a region of high (inside the cell) to low (outside the cell) water concentration.**
In salt water, the concentration of solutes (like salt) is higher outside the cell compared to inside. Water will move out of the cell to balance the solute concentrations on both sides of the plasma membrane, leading to the cell shrinking. This process is known as osmosis.
**d. water is diffusing across the plasma membrane from a region of high (inside the cell) to low (outside the cell) water concentration.**
In salt water, the concentration of solutes (like salt) is higher outside the cell compared to inside. Water will move out of the cell to balance the solute concentrations on both sides of the plasma membrane, leading to the cell shrinking. This process is known as osmosis.