Question

A group of single-cell organisms collected from the ocean was brought into the lab for examination. The lab assistant was concerned that the water had become full of toxic waste products and so added clean water to the culture. All of the organisms died, and when she looked at them under the microscope, all she could see were bits and pieces of them scattered throughout the water. What likely happened?
(A) She added water that was hypertonic to the culture of organisms, and they ruptured.
(B) She added water that was hydrophobic to the culture of organisms, and they ruptured.
(C) She added water that was hypotonic to the culture of organisms, and they ruptured.
(D) She added water that was hydrophilic to the culture of organisms, and they ruptured.

Answer 1

The correct answer is C. She added water that was hypotonic to the culture of organisms, and they ruptured.

Explanation:

In biology, a hypotonic solution is a substance with less concentration than the inner concentration in cells, this is the opposite of a hypertonic solution that has a higher concentration. Additionally, if cells are in hypotonic solution water or liquid will begin to get into them and this would make cells burst and finally explode and die due to the pressure in them.

This occurred in the case presented as it is likely the organisms collected from the ocean had a high concentration and therefore hen they were exposed to clean water in which concentration was lower, water entered into the cells and made them explode, which explains the only remains of them were bit and pieces.