Final answer:
When adding a concentrated salt solution to the mounted leaf on a glass slide, multiple changes may occur in the leaf cells. These changes may include plasmolysis, disruption of the cell membrane, and alterations in chloroplasts.
Step-by-step explanation:
When observing the rheo leaf under the microscope after adding a few drops of concentrated salt solution, you will likely observe several changes in the leaf cells. One possible observation is that the cells may shrink or become plasmolyzed due to the hypertonic nature of the salt solution. Plasmolysis occurs when water leaves the cell through osmosis, causing the cell membrane to detach from the cell wall. This can result in a visible change in the overall shape and structure of the cells.
Additionally, the salt solution can also disrupt the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane, altering its permeability and potentially causing leakage of cell contents. This may lead to changes in the color or appearance of the cells under the microscope.
Lastly, the salt solution may also induce changes in the chloroplasts present in leaf cells. Chloroplasts are responsible for photosynthesis and contain chlorophyll, which gives leaves their green color. The concentrated salt solution can affect the functioning of chloroplasts, leading to changes in their color or arrangement.