How Do Cells React in Solutions of Different Concentrations?

What causes cells to shrink or swell in solutions with varying concentrations?

How do cells behave when placed in solutions with different solute concentrations?

Cells shrink or swell due to osmosis in solutions of varying concentrations.

Final Answer

Cells shrink or swell due to osmosis in solutions of varying concentrations. When a cell is placed in a solution with a different concentration of solutes compared to the cell's interior, water will either move into the cell (hypotonic solution) or out of the cell (hypertonic solution) to equalize the solute concentrations on both sides of the membrane.

Explanation

The movement of water across cell membranes is governed by the principle of osmosis, which is the net movement of solvent molecules from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration through a semipermeable membrane. In a hypotonic solution, water moves into the cell causing it to swell, while in a hypertonic solution, water moves out of the cell causing it to shrink and lose turgor pressure.

When a 0.5% NaCl solution is used on Elodea leaf cells, it would likely result in a hypertonic environment. The higher concentration of NaCl in the solution compared to the cells' interior would cause water to move out of the cells, leading to their shrinkage and loss of turgor pressure.