Answer to Question #23690 in Biochemistry for Chanel

Question

6. Describe and explain what would happen to a cell containing 100mM NaCl, 150 mM glucose, and 100 mM protein if placed into:
a) distilled water? (describe the volume change if the cell were permeable to water only).
b) a solution of 100mM NaCl, IF the cell were permeable to water only.
c) a solution of 100mM NaCl, IF the cell were permeable to salt and glucose as well as water.
d) A solution of 200mM glucose, IF the cell were permeable to water only.

Answer 1

The process is a description of osmosis, which is themovement of solvent/water to places where solute concentrations are low to where solute concentrations are high to establish an equal concentration gradient across the membrane.
a) distilled water? (describe the volume change if the cell were permeable to water only).
Distilled water would enter the cell increasing its volume until lysis occurs. Lysis is the process of a cell bursting open.
b) a solution of 100mM NaCl, IF the cell were permeable to water only.
Nothing the concentrations are in equal concentrations inside and outside the cell.
c) a solution of 100mM NaCl, IF the cell were permeable to salt and glucose as well as water.
The glucose concentration would change inside the cell, and glucose would move out of the cell where the solute's concentration is high to where it is low to establish an equal solute to water concentration across the membrane.
d) A solution of 200mM glucose, IF the cell were permeable to water only.
The concentration of glucose is higher outside then inside the cell. Therefore, water will move outside the cell causing the cell to shrivel.