The diagram below shows plant cells submerged in solutions with different concentrations of sugar.
plant cell osmosis
In diagram 1, water is flowing by osmosis out of the cell because the concentration of water
A.
forces waste products to leave the cell.
B.
is the same both inside and outside the cell.
C.
inside the cell is lower than in the surrounding solution.
D.
inside the cell is higher than in the surrounding solution.
D. inside the cell is higher than in the surrounding solution.
To determine the answer to this question, let's analyze the diagram provided. The diagram shows plant cells submerged in solutions with different concentrations of sugar. We are specifically looking at Diagram 1.
In osmosis, water molecules move from an area of higher water concentration to an area of lower water concentration, across a semi-permeable membrane. The key point to note is that water moves based on its own concentration, not the concentration of sugar.
Therefore, to understand the direction of water movement in Diagram 1, we need to compare the water concentration inside and outside the plant cell.
Option A states that water is flowing out of the cell because waste products are being forced out. However, the presence of waste products does not determine the direction of water movement in osmosis.
Option B suggests that the concentration of water is the same both inside and outside the cell. However, if this was the case, there would be no net movement of water, and no osmosis would occur.
Option C states that the water concentration inside the cell is lower than in the surrounding solution. According to osmosis, in order for water to move out of the cell, the water concentration inside the cell must be lower than that in the surrounding solution. Hence, option C is the correct answer.
Option D suggests that the water concentration inside the cell is higher than in the surrounding solution. This is the opposite of what occurs in osmosis, where water moves from an area of lower water concentration to an area of higher water concentration.
Therefore, the correct answer is C. The water concentration inside the cell is lower than in the surrounding solution, causing water to flow out of the cell through osmosis.