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
- SL
Exam analysis
Chance of appearing1%of analysed past papers
Latest appearanceMay 2025
Most common paperPaper2
Typical marks7
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
May 2025Paper2 ["SL"] · TZ16(c)[ 7 ]D2.3.6—Effects on cells with wall
Practice this objective
Coverage 2025–2025 · 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.