Osmosis: Cell Wall and Cover Slip Essay Example

the cytoplasmic contents of the cell pull away from the rigid cell wall) because the onion skin is exposed to a hypertonic solution (where the water solution on the cell is greater than that of the outside) and by osmosis, the water goes out of the cell, this process is called Plasmolysis. 2.What happened to the onion skin cells after replacing the salt solution with distilled water? What could be a possible explanation to such phenomenon? oThe cytoplasmic contents of the onion skin cell retained back to its original state. It is because the onion skin is exposed to a hypotonic solution (where the water solution is the same less than outside the cell) and by osmosis, the water goes inside of the cell to maintain equilibrium.

3. Which substance actually moves across the cell membrane faster, water or the salt?How can you tell? oSalt, because you don’t have to wait for a few minutes to see the changes in the cell unlike in the water where you still have to wait for a few minutes. 4. Predict what would happen to freshwater algae if they were placed in the ocean.

Why? oThe freshwater algae will undergo plasmolysis and it will shrink to death, because the freshwater solution is exposed to a hypertonic solution, so it will undergo plasmolysis. 5. Explain why plants become limp when they are not watered?Describe the sequence of events that occurs after a limp plant is watered. oWhen a whole plant is short of water, all its cells are flaccid and the whole plant wilts or droops.

When you give it water, all the cells become turgid again and the

plant stands up properly. Water is important to the physical strength and rigidity of plant material. Conclusion: We therefore conclude that Osmosis can greatly affect the condition of the cell, and osmosis could explain some phenomenon that can’t be explained without going into the microscopic level.