Moderate

Plasmolysis of a human red blood cell would occur if they were _

Correct answer: B. In a hypertonic solution

  • A. In an isotonic solution
  • B. In a hypertonic solution
  • C. In a hypotonic solution
  • D. None of the above

Explanation

Plasmolysis occurs when a cell is in a hypertonic solution, where the external solute concentration is higher than inside the cell. This causes water to move out of the cell by osmosis, leading to cell shrinkage. Option B is correct because it describes this scenario. Option A is incorrect as isotonic solutions do not cause a net movement of water. Option C is incorrect because a hypotonic solution would cause water to enter the cell, resulting in swelling, not shrinking. Option D is incorrect as plasmolysis is a specific response to a hypertonic environment.

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About Homeostasis

Homeostasis maintains a stable internal environment through the kidney and urinary system, thermoregulation and excretion. The kidney topics include filtration, selective reabsorption, urine formation and water balance, while thermoregulation involves sweating, vasodilation, vasoconstriction and hormonal control; excretion is different from egestion, which removes undigested food.

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