Question

You have a small, flaccid, living plant cell. What happens when you put this cell into?

1) Water
2) Air
3) Soil
4) Sunlight

Answer 1

A flaccid plant cell would absorb water through osmosis to become turgid when placed in water, but may become further dehydrated in air, especially if dry. Soil can provide moisture and nutrients for recovery; however, sunlight alone can't improve flaccidity but is needed for photosynthesis in conjunction with water.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a small, flaccid, living plant cell is placed into different environments, various things happen:

1. Water: The plant cell would absorb water through osmosis, which is the movement of water through a semi-permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. This would cause the cell to become turgid, restoring its firmness and ideal shape.
2. Air: If the air is dry, the plant cell may lose water through diffusion, resulting in further dehydration, causing the cell to remain flaccid or become plasmolyzed if too much water is lost.
3. Soil: Soil can provide the plant cell with water and nutrients. If the soil is moist, it’s likely the plant cell will absorb water and nutrients, potentially improving its turgidity.
4. Sunlight: Sunlight alone cannot improve the flaccidity of the plant cell, but it is required in photosynthesis, which the plant uses to create sugars. Without sufficient water, a plant cannot take advantage of sunlight and would remain flaccid or eventually die.

Through diffusion and osmosis, plant cells maintain and regulate their internal environment, which is vital for survival when adapting to changes on land.