A solution that causes an egg (or a cell) to get smaller is HYPERTONIC to the cell. The corn syrup solution was hypertonic to the egg so water left the egg. Which of the following correctly explains the movement of water across the egg’s selectively permeable membrane when placed in a HYPERTONIC solution?

Question

The concentration of water outside the egg was greater than inside the egg so water moved from HIGH to LOW concentration.

The concentration of water outside the egg was greater than inside the egg so water moved from LOW to HIGH

The concentration of water inside the egg was greater than outside of the egg and the water moved from HIGH concentration to LOW concentration.

The concentration of water inside the egg was greater than outside of the egg and the water moved from LOW concentration to HIGH concentration.

Answer 1

The correct explanation of the movement of water across the egg’s selectively permeable membrane when placed in a hypertonic solution is:

The concentration of water inside the egg was greater than outside of the egg and the water moved from HIGH concentration to LOW concentration.

In a hypertonic solution, the concentration of solutes (like corn syrup) is higher outside the egg than inside. Consequently, the concentration of water is lower outside the egg compared to inside. Water will move from the region of higher water concentration (inside the egg) to the region of lower water concentration (outside the egg) until equilibrium is reached.