Consider the following situation. A cell is in a solution that contains dissolved oxygen. As the cell uses oxygen for respiration,
a. oxygen will be carried across the cell membrane by special transport molecules.
b. oxygen will naturally diffuse out of the cell.
c. no diffusion will take place.
d. oxygen in the solution will naturally diffuse into the cell.
I think it's b or d
It's B. oxygen in the solution will naturally diffuse into the cell.
c. no diffusion will take place
To determine whether option b or d is correct, let's break down the process:
1. The cell is using oxygen for respiration.
2. As the cell uses oxygen, there is a decrease in oxygen concentration inside the cell.
3. According to the principles of diffusion, substances naturally tend to move from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration until equilibrium is reached.
Based on these points, we can eliminate option c because it suggests that no diffusion occurs, which contradicts the principle of diffusion.
Option a is not completely accurate because while there are special transport molecules involved in oxygen transport, these molecules are more specialized for oxygen transport in the bloodstream, not across the cell membrane.
Now, let's evaluate the remaining options:
Option b states that oxygen will naturally diffuse out of the cell. This would be the case if the oxygen concentration was higher inside the cell than in the surrounding solution. However, in the given situation, the cell is using oxygen for respiration, resulting in a lower oxygen concentration inside the cell compared to the solution. As a result, diffusion out of the cell would not be favored.
Option d suggests that oxygen in the solution will naturally diffuse into the cell. This aligns with the principle of diffusion since the oxygen concentration is higher in the surrounding solution compared to inside the cell. Therefore, option d is the correct answer.
So, the answer is d. Oxygen in the solution will naturally diffuse into the cell.