Question

8. Which water sample is more resistant to changes in its pH level: A sample of freshwater or a sample of saltwater? Briefly explain why you think this is. (50-100 words).
9. Please describe what will happen to a plant cell when it is put into a hypotonic environment. Please include the terms: osmosis, semi-permeable membrane, and cell wall in your answer. (50-100 words)
10. Describe what will happen to an exclusively saltwater fish (meaning it only lives in saltwater) if it is placed in a freshwater environment. Be sure to describe what will happen to the cells of the saltwater fish when put in this environment.

Answer 1

Ans) The sample of saltwater is more resistant to the change in the pH because the freshwater has a neutral pH of 7. When either an acid or base is added to it, it will quickly turn into either alkaline or acid freshwater sample. However, when it comes to saltwater, it is resistant to pH change because the salt is solubilized in water. The salt is not able to bind to the hydrogen atom and hence it will not change the pH level of water.

Ans) When a plant cell is put in hypotonic environment, due to the process of the osmosis, the vacuoles of the plant are filled with water. Due to this it tends to increase the turgor pressure and hence it swells the plant cell. The cell wall of the plant cell is a semi-permeable membrane and the water moves into the cell from region of low solute concentration to higher solute concentration. Hence due to the increase in turgor pressure, it swells the cell.