D2.3.6—Effects on cells with wall
Cells with walls become turgid in hypotonic solutions and plasmolysed in hypertonic solutions as water moves by osmosis across membranes.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2025
- Objective
- D2.3.6
- Level
- HL
Exam analysis
Chance of appearing3%of analysed past papers
Latest appearanceNovember 2023
Most common paperPaper2
Typical marks1–4
Common command terms
- Outline
- State
- Explain
Scoring notes
- Common mistake
- Saying plant cells burst in hypotonic solution ignores the protective cell wall.
Recent exam appearances
November 2023Paper2 ["HL"] · TZ25(b)(ii)[ 1 ]D2.3.6—Effects on cells with wall
November 2023Paper2 ["HL"] · TZ25(b)(i)[ 2 ]D2.3.6—Effects on cells with wall
May 2023Paper1 ["HL"] · TZ13[ 1 ]D2.3.6—Effects on cells with wall
May 2016Paper2 ["HL"] · TZ06(b)[ 4 ]D2.3.6—Effects on cells with wall
Practice this objective
Coverage 2016–2023 · Updated 16 Jul 2026
Concept essentials
- Water entry can make plant cells turgid.
- The cell wall prevents plant cells from bursting under turgor pressure.
- Hypertonic solutions cause water loss and plasmolysis.
- Plasmolysis involves the membrane pulling away from the cell wall.