Question

The concentration of sugar is higher inside a cell than outside the cell. The concentration of water inside the cell is lower than it is outside. Sugar cannot pass through the cell membrane.
What will happen to the concentrations of water and sugar?



A.
Water will move into the cell in a process called osmosis. The concentrations of sugar and water will become similar inside and outside the cell.

B.
Water will move out of the cell in a process called osmosis. The concentrations of sugar and water will become similar inside and outside the cell.

C.
Water will move into the cell in a process called diffusion. The concentration of sugar will be greater inside than outside.

D.
Water will move out of the cell in a process called diffusion. The concentration of sugar will be less inside than outside.

Answer 1

A because osmosis will act to balance the concentrations of water inside and outside the cell. As this happens, sugar outside the cell will dissolve into the water and be moved across the cell membrane with it into the cell. This continues until the concentrations are equal.