A plant cell placed in pure water does not burst because
Correct answer: A. the rigid cellulose wall resists further expansion once the cell is turgid
- A. the rigid cellulose wall resists further expansion once the cell is turgid
- B. water cannot enter the cell at all
- C. the vacuole absorbs the excess water permanently
- D. the plasma membrane is impermeable to water
Explanation
Water enters by osmosis until the wall pushes back with a pressure equal to the inward osmotic pull, and the cell stops taking in more water and is described as turgid. Turgor is what supports herbaceous plants, so wilting follows when it is lost. An animal cell has no wall and therefore does burst in the same conditions.
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About Animal and Plant Cell
Animal and plant cells share a plasma membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, ribosomes, mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum, but plant cells also have a cellulose cell wall, chloroplasts and a large permanent vacuole. Questions cover organelle structure and function, differences between the two cell types, and how membranes control movement of substances.
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