Question

Osmosis is a type of diffusion in which water passes through semipermeable membranes. What type of diffusion do potato cells and Elodea cells use to carry out osmosis?

Answer 1

Potato cells and Elodea cells use plasmolysis to carry out osmosis.

Explanation:

Osmosis lets water pass through a semipermeable membrane by diffusion.  

Plasmolysis makes a cell lose its water when kept in a hypertonic solution. This leads to shrinking of cell cytoplasm due to diffusion of water from inside to the outside of the cell when in a highly concentrated salt solution. Due to this, the cell membranes will repel from the cell wall.

Potato cells and Elodea cells also undergo plasmolysis when placed in a salt solution and will lose the water content. Because of this, the cells will shrink and become less turgid. However, when these cells are kept in hypotonic solution with less concentration of salt, then water is not lost from the cells because of the rigid cell walls.