Final answer:
The scenario where limp celery becomes crisp in water is an example of osmosis, which involves the movement of water through a semipermeable membrane to balance solute concentrations. This principle is vital in biological system maintenance and medical applications such as isotonic intravenous solutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a semipermeable membrane from a region with a higher concentration of water to a lower one. Among the options provided, the one that represents an example of osmosis is when limp celery becomes crisp in water (C). This occurs because the water moves into the celery cells by osmosis, which is facilitated by the cell's semipermeable membranes. Such movement of water aims to equalize solute concentrations on both sides of the membrane.
Other real-world instances illustrating osmosis include cells in hypotonic or hypertonic solutions. For instance, if a hypotonic solution is injected into the bloodstream, water will pass into the blood cells, potentially causing them to burst in a process known as hemolysis. Conversely, if a hypertonic solution is introduced, cells may lose water, shrink, and possibly die, called crenation. Therefore, solutions introduced into the body, like IV fluids, must be isotonic with blood plasma to avoid these harmful effects.
Osmosis is critical for maintaining the integrity of cells and is involved in various biological processes such as rehydration after sweating. It's a natural mechanism for balancing water levels in different parts of the body or across cell membranes, and it's pivotal in medical treatments such as intravenous therapy.