effects of osmosis on cells with walls (like plant cells)

Question 1

What happens when water enters plant cells?

Answer 1

When water enters plant cells, the cell wall prevents lysis, and high pressure builds up inside the cell.
The cell becomes turgid – this is the normal, healthy state for plant cells.

Question 2

What is turgidity and why is it important for plants?

Answer 2

Turgidity is the state when plant cells are full of water and under pressure from the cell wall.

It provides support, helping non-woody plant tissue (like stems and leaves) resist gravity.

Question 3

What happens when plant cells lose water?

Answer 3

When plant cells lose water, the pressure inside the cell drops to atmospheric pressure, causing the cell to lose turgidity.

The cell becomes flaccid, which leads to the plant wilting and the stomata closing.

Question 4

What happens to plant cells when they are placed in a hypertonic solution?

Answer 4

In a hypertonic solution, water leaves the plant cells.
The plasma membrane eventually pulls away from the cell wall, leading to plasmolysis, where the cell is damaged and will likely die.

Question 5

What is plasmolysis and when can it occur?

Answer 5

Plasmolysis is when the plasma membrane pulls away from the cell wall due to water loss.
It can happen naturally when seawater floods terrestrial ecosystems (e.g., during high tides or tsunamis).