Which of the following figures best depicts an animal cell placed in a solution that is hypotonic to the cell?

• A. A cell swelling and possibly bursting due to water influx
• B. A cell shrinking as water leaves the cell
• C. A cell with equal concentrations of solutes inside and outside
• D. A cell maintaining its normal shape with no net water movement

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of tonicity: Tonicity refers to the relative concentration of solutes in a solution compared to the solutes inside a cell. A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell.
2. Recall the principle of osmosis: Osmosis is the movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.
3. Analyze the effect of a hypotonic solution on an animal cell: In a hypotonic solution, water will move into the cell because the solute concentration inside the cell is higher than outside. This influx of water can cause the cell to swell.
4. Consider the structural differences in animal cells: Unlike plant cells, animal cells lack a rigid cell wall. Therefore, if too much water enters the cell, it may swell excessively and burst (a process called lysis).
5. Match the description to the correct answer: Based on the explanation, the correct depiction of an animal cell in a hypotonic solution is a cell swelling and possibly bursting due to water influx.