Question

The salt concentration in a cell's cytoplasm is 0.9%. The cell is placed in a 10% salt solution. Which term best describes the 10% salt solution relative to the cytoplasm of the cell?

Answer 1

The term that best describes the 10% salt solution relative to the cytoplasm of the cell is ' Hypertonic'

Explanation:

When the concentration of two solutionare compared they can be described as hypertonic, hypotonic or isotonic with relation to one another.

When two solutions have same concentration and osmotic pressure they are said to be isotonic solutions.

The solution which has higher molecular concentration and higher osmotic pressure than the other solution is called hypertonic solution.

The solution which has lower molecular concentration and lower osmotic pressure with respect to other solution is called hypotonic solution.

Here the solution of salt has a higher concentration than cell sap so it is a hypertonic.