Question

1. In osmosis, which direction does water move with respect to solute concentration?

2. Using the appropriate osmotic terms (hypertonic, hypotonic, or isotonic) describe what would happen to each organism in the following settings:

a. A single-celled freshwater protist is placed into a beaker of salt water.

b. A salt-water snail is mistakenly put into a freshwater tank.

c. A head of lettuce is placed soaked in a sink of salt water.

d. A bunch of carrots are placed soaked a sink of distilled water.

3. Some gardeners kill slugs by pouring salt on them. Given what you have learned about osmosis, explain why this method is effective.

Answer 1

Answer:

Osmosis is defined as the process of movement of solvent molecules from its higher concentration to lower concentration through a semipermeable membrane.It depend son the tonicity of the medium which in turn the measure of the effective osmotic pressure gradient.

Hypertonic- Contains higher solute concentration and lower solvent concentration.

Hypotonic- Lower solute concentration and higher solvent concentration.

Isotonic- Both solute and solvent concentration are in equilibrium.

a) Single-celled freshwater organism, such as a protist, is transferred to salt water. What is likely to happen?

Cell shrinks- Since freshwater is hypotonic to saltwater,saltwater would be hypertonic to protist.

b)  A salt-water snail is mistakenly put into a freshwater tank

Fish willl die.

Snail which got adapted to saltwater survival will have the tendency of drinking water continuously to maintain the equilibrium in its natural environment.

c) A head of lettuce is placed soaked in a sink of salt water

Water in the leaf of lettuce will migrate out if placed in salt water, leaving a mushy leaf behind.

d)  A bunch of carrots are placed soaked a sink of distilled water.

Increases the crispness of the carrot.

Movement of waterr from relatively high water potential to low water potential which increases the pressure of water inside the cells of carrot by diffusing into it.