Question

Most animal cells are surrounded by a layer of water with dissolved substances. For animals cells to function normally, there should be equal amounts of water diffusing into and out of the cell. Which type of surrounding fluid would result in equal amounts of water diffusing into and out of a cell?

A. Water with a higher concentration of solutes than the cytosol. B. water with a lower concentration of solutes than the cytosol. C. Water with the same concentration of solutes as the cytosol

Answer 1

C. Water with the same concentration of solutes as the cytosol

Step-by-step explanation:

Water will move from a high concentration to a lower concentration across the cell membrane. When the concentration of solutes is higher, the concentration of water is lower.

To have equal amounts of water moving into and out of the cell, we need the concentration of solutes (and therefore water) to be the same inside and outside the cell (as in C)

If the concentration of solutes is higher outside the cell than inside the cell (as in A), then water will flow out of the cell an it will shrivel up.

If the concentration of solutes is lower outside the cell than inside the cell (as in B), then water will flow into the cell and the cell will swell and burst.