Question

Plant cells can better tolerate exposure to hypotonic solutions than can animal cells. Which one of the following helps to best explain why plant cells can better tolerate hypotonic solutions? a. The hot sun on plant cells causes any extra water to evaporate. b. The rigid cell walls limit how far plant cells can expand and exert a back pressure to limit further water uptake. c. Chloroplasts consume the extra water in photosynthesis, decreasing the swelling. d. The veins in plants drain away the extra water from the plant cells. e. Stomata in plant cell leaves quickly drain excess water from the cells.

Answer 1

Answer:

b. The rigid cell walls limit how far plant cells can expand and exert a back pressure to limit further water uptake.

Explanation:

Plant cells have a rigid cell wall made of cellulose. Animal cells lack a cell wall.  

When the plant cells are placed in a hypotonic solution, water enters into the cells and the cells expand. However, after a certain limit, the cell wall exerts wall pressure on the contents of the cell and does not allow it to take more water in. The wall pressure from the cell wall of plant cells protects them against bursting when placed in a hypotonic solution.

Animal cells burst out due to intake of water by osmosis when placed in a hypotonic solution. They do not have a cell wall to protect them from bursting.