What happens when a substance dissolves in the watery solution outside of a cell and equilibrium is disrupted.
a. Water from the cell will move into the solution
b. water from the solution will move into the cell
c. the pores in the cell membrane will become clogged with the dissolved substance
d. Nothing will happen until the equilibrium is re-established
When a substance dissolves in the watery solution outside of a cell and equilibrium is disrupted, the water from the cell will move into the solution. This movement occurs through a process called osmosis, where water molecules move from an area of lower solute concentration (inside the cell) to an area of higher solute concentration (outside the cell) in order to equalize the concentration. Therefore, option a, "Water from the cell will move into the solution," is the correct answer.
To determine what happens when a substance dissolves in a watery solution outside of a cell and causes a disruption in equilibrium, we can analyze the process of osmosis.
Osmosis is the movement of solvent molecules (usually water) across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. The purpose of osmosis is to equalize the concentration of solutes on both sides of the membrane, achieving equilibrium.
In this scenario, when a substance dissolves in the watery solution outside of the cell, the solute concentration in the solution increases. This disruption in equilibrium triggers the movement of water across the cell membrane.
Based on the principles of osmosis, the correct answer is option b. Water from the solution will move into the cell. This occurs because the concentration of solutes is now higher outside the cell than inside. Water will move from an area of lower solute concentration (inside the cell) to an area of higher solute concentration (outside the cell) in an attempt to restore equilibrium.
Option a, which states that water from the cell will move into the solution, is not accurate. This is because, in osmosis, water moves from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. The solute concentration outside the cell has increased, so water will flow into the cell.
Option c, which states that the pores in the cell membrane will become clogged with the dissolved substance, is not applicable to osmosis. Osmosis primarily involves the movement of water across the membrane, not the dissolved substance itself.
Option d, which states that nothing will happen until the equilibrium is re-established, is not entirely accurate. Osmosis will occur to restore equilibrium by equalizing the concentration of solutes on both sides of the cell membrane. Water will move into the cell to dilute the higher solute concentration outside.