If a living plant were moved from a freshwater aquarium to a saltwater aquarium, which of the following would occur?

Question

a
The plant's cells would block sodium movement.
b
The plant's cells would lose sodium.
c
The plant's cells would take in extra water.
d
The plant's cells would lose water.

Answer 1

If a living plant were moved from a freshwater aquarium to a saltwater aquarium, the most likely occurrence would be:

d. The plant's cells would lose water.

This happens because the surrounding saltwater has a higher concentration of solutes (salt) compared to the interior of the plant's cells. As a result, water moves out of the plant's cells into the saltwater solution to balance the concentration difference, leading to dehydration of the plant cells. This process is known as osmosis.