Question

A solution in a beaker has NaCl dissolved in water with a solute potential of -0.5 bars. A flaccid cell is placed in the above beaker with a solute potential of -0.9 bars. What is the pressure potential of the flaccid cell before it was placed in the beaker?

a) 0.4 bars
b) -0.4 bars
c) -0.9 bars
d) 0.5 bars

Answer 1

The pressure potential of the flaccid cell before it was placed in the beaker is -0.4 bars.

Step-by-step explanation:

The pressure potential of the flaccid cell before it was placed in the beaker can be calculated using the formula for water potential, which is the sum of solute potential and pressure potential. In this case, the solute potential of the beaker solution is -0.5 bars, and the solute potential of the flaccid cell is -0.9 bars. Since the water potential of pure water is zero, the pressure potential can be calculated as the difference between the solute potential of the flaccid cell and the solute potential of the beaker solution: -0.9 bars - (-0.5 bars) = -0.4 bars.