Question

A bacterium is placed in a hypertonic solution. Which of the following would the bacterium use to maintain osmotic pressure?

Answer 1

The answer to this one is c.

Answer 2

Answer:

c. Facilitated diffusion

Explanation:

The bacteria shown in the question is in a hypertonic solution. Thus, we can conclude that the solution contains a higher solute concentration than the solute concentration inside the bacteria. For the osmotic pressure to be maintained the bacteria will receive solution solutes until the concentrations are balanced. This process is done through facilitated diffusion.

Some substances have certain characteristics that make it impossible for them to cross the cell's lipid bilayer by simple diffusion. However, they can also pass the membrane by passive transport, this type of process known as facilitated diffusion. In this way, particles can enter or leave the cell through their attachment to specific proteins, known as carrier proteins, or through aqueous pores of protein channels, both present in the cell membrane.