Question

A cell is placed in a solution of unknown tonicity. There is 85% solvent inside the cell and 10% solute outside the cell. Calculate the remaining percentage of solute inside the cell and the remaining percentage of solvent outside the cell, which way will the water move, and what type of solution would you have?

A. 25% solute inside, 75% solvent outside, water goes in and out (Isotonic)
B. 90% solute inside, 15% solvent outside, water leaves (Hypertonic)
C. 15% solute inside, 90% solvent outside, water goes in (Hypotonic)
D. 60% solute inside, 40% solvent outside, water stays (Isotonic)

Answer 1

Given the solute and solvent percentages, the cell is in a hypotonic solution with 15% solute inside and 90% solvent outside, leading to water movement into the cell.

Step-by-step explanation:

If there is 85% solvent inside the cell and 10% solute outside the cell, the remaining percentage of solute inside the cell would be 15% because the total percentage must add up to 100%. Similarly, if there's 10% solute outside the cell, the remaining percentage of solvent outside the cell would be 90%. Since the solute concentration is higher inside the cell (15%) compared to outside (10%), water will move into the cell. This is indicative of a hypotonic solution, where the external solution has a lower solute concentration compared to the inside of the cell. Therefore, the correct answer is C. 15% solute inside, 90% solvent outside, water goes in (Hypotonic).