Question

"A cell contains a solution of 25% salt. The cell floats in a solution with 5% salt. What will happen to this cell? Select all that apply."

Answer 1

A cell with 25% salt content placed in a 5% salt solution will swell due to water entering to balance solute concentrations. If excessive water enters, the cell may burst (lyse).

Step-by-step explanation:

What Happens to a Cell in Varied Salt Concentrations

When a cell containing a 25% salt solution is placed in an external solution with a 5% salt concentration, there is a significant difference in the solute concentration between the inside of the cell and the surrounding environment. Because the cell membrane is permeable to water, water will move in an attempt to equalize the solute concentrations on both sides of the membrane. This is a process known as osmosis.

In this scenario, the external solution is hypotonic to the cell (the solute concentration outside is less than inside the cell), which results in water flowing into the cell to dilute the internal salty environment. As a result, the cell will swell, and if the influx of water is large enough, it could potentially burst in a process called lysis.

Therefore, the following will happen to the cell:

If enough water enters, the cell may lyse (burst) due to the increased internal pressure.

Answer 2

The cell will swell up.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cell contains 25% salt solution.

Concentration of solution in which cell is floating = 5%

25% salt solution > 5% salt solution

Cell is more concentrated that the solution.Due to this movement of salt that is solute particles will take place from higher concentration to lower concentrations. And water will move from lower concentration to higher concentration that inside the cell, resulting in swelling up of the cell.