Question

Which of the following statements best describes what happens when a bacterial cell is placed in a solution containing 5 percent NaCl?
A) Sucrose will move into the cell from a higher to a lower concentration.
B) The cell will undergo osmotic lysis.
C) Water will move out of the cell.
D) Water will move into the cell.
E) No change will result; the solution is isotonic.

Answer 1

Answer:

C) Water will move out of the cell.

Explanation:

In microbial growth experiments, when a bacterium is placed in a Petri dish with a solution that contains dissolved salt (NaCl) - a hypertonic solution -, the result will lead to the dehydration and shrinking of the bacterial cell.

This condition will eventually cause the rupture of the cell, resulting in the diffuse of H20 molecules from the plasma membrane, that is, the water moving out of the cell.