Final Answer:
If a human body cell is placed in a beaker of distilled water, water will move into the cell due to osmosis, causing the cell to swell and potentially burst. This process is known as cytolysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Distilled water is hypotonic compared to the cytoplasm of human cells, meaning it has a lower solute concentration. In such a situation, water molecules move from an area of higher concentration (outside the cell) to an area of lower concentration (inside the cell) through the cell membrane. This influx of water causes the cell to swell as it gains volume, a process known as osmosis. In extreme cases, if the influx of water is rapid and substantial, the cell may take in too much water, leading to cytolysis—the bursting of the cell membrane. The cell's integrity is compromised as it swells beyond its normal size.