Why are bacterial cells less likely than animal cells to burst in a hypotonic solution?

• A. Bacterial cells have a rigid cell wall that prevents excessive water uptake.
• B. Bacterial cells contain more solutes in their cytoplasm than animal cells.
• C. Bacterial cells actively pump water out of the cell to prevent bursting.
• D. Bacterial cells have a thicker plasma membrane than animal cells.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of osmosis: Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. In a hypotonic solution, the environment outside the cell has a lower solute concentration than the inside of the cell, causing water to move into the cell.
2. Recognize the structural difference between bacterial and animal cells: Bacterial cells have a rigid cell wall made of peptidoglycan, while animal cells lack a cell wall and only have a flexible plasma membrane.
3. Analyze the role of the bacterial cell wall: The rigid cell wall in bacterial cells provides structural support and prevents the cell from expanding excessively when water enters. This structural feature protects bacterial cells from bursting in a hypotonic solution.
4. Compare with animal cells: Animal cells, lacking a cell wall, rely solely on their plasma membrane to regulate water movement. In a hypotonic solution, excessive water uptake can cause the plasma membrane to stretch and potentially lead to cell lysis (bursting).
5. Conclude why bacterial cells are less likely to burst: The presence of the rigid cell wall in bacterial cells is the key factor that prevents them from bursting in a hypotonic solution, making the correct answer: 'Bacterial cells have a rigid cell wall that prevents excessive water uptake.'