A fish that normally lives in salty water is placed in a tank containing fresh water. What do you think will happen to the cells
of the fish? A.) The cells will become healthier because of the pure water.
B.) The cells might shrink and cause the fish to die.
C.) The cells might swell and burst.
D.) There will be no effect on the cells.
<span>✎ </span>A fish that normally lives in salty water is placed in a tank containing fresh water. The new environment with a higher solution will cause the fish cells to swell and burst.
The salt water can be considered as hypotonic solution in which the concentration of salt outside the body is more than inside the fish body hence, the fish body will prevent the entry of water. The freshwater can be considered as hypertonic solution. The concentration of solute inside the body is more than outside the body. The water is expected to enter inside the body of the fish. Hence, the cells might swell and burst.
