The image was obtained with a mobile phone camera pointing down the eyepiece tube of a light microscope. It shows onion (Allium cepa) epidermal cells after immersion in a hypertonic salt solution during an experiment on osmosis.
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Question rangeD2.3.6—Effects on cells with wall
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Onion (Allium cepa) epidermis was placed in pure water and observed with a light microscope using high magnification.
What would happen to these cells if they were transferred to a hypertonic solution?
A
Cells would gain mass.
B
Cells would take in water by osmosis and swell.
C
Cells would burst open, releasing their content.
D
Cell membranes would detach from walls at some points.
Plants have cell walls composed of cellulose.
Water is one of the most abundant molecules on Earth. Living organisms must maintain homeostatic levels of water to survive.