How would a plant cell react differently than an animal cell when placed into a hypertonic solution?

Answer 1

A solution which has a lower osmotic concentration (high water potential) than another solution is said to be hypotonic. If two solutions are of equal concentration they are isotonic.
A plant cell behaves differently from an animal cell when placed in a hypotonic solution. Since the cell sap has a lower water potential than that of the solution outside the living cell, water enters the cell by osmosis (endosmosis). Note, that the partially permeable membrane here is the plasma membrane and not the cellulose cell wall. The cellulose cell wall is permeable and allows most dissolved substances to pass through.
As water enters the cell the vacuole increases in size and pushes the cell contents against the cellulose wall. The plant cell does not burst because the cell wall is strong and relatively inelastic. It prevents over expansion of the cell by exerting an opposing pressure preventing the entry of more water. When the cell is in this state, it becomes rigid or turgid. This rigidity of the cell with water is called turgor. The pressure exerted by the water on the cell wall is the turgor pressure.
On the other hand an animal cell will swell and may burst in a hypotonic solution.

Answer 2

Water issues abound throughout the world with every region having its own distinct challenges. That is why the Water Environment Federation's premier publication World Watermakes a point of covering not just the big picture issues that attract the most press, but also regional and local problems that are often overlooked.

Answer 3

In Biology, a hypotonic solution refers to a solution that contains less solute (more water) compared to the cytoplasm of the cell. If the solution surrounding the cell is hypotonic osmosis causes water to have a net flow into the cell, thus, resulting in the swelling and expansion of the cell. When an animal cell is set to a hypotonic environment the cell will eventually lyse (rupture) due to the osmotic pressure. In a plant, the cell will not lyse but become turgid because of its cell wall that prevents it from bursting. In fact, it is the osmotic pressure (or turgor pressure) that helps keep the plant from wilting and losing its shape.

Answer 4

A plant cell would lose water and shrink due to the higher concentration of solutes outside the cell. This would lead to the cell membrane pulling away from the cell wall, a process known as plasmolysis. In contrast, animal cells would shrink and possibly burst due to the movement of water out of the cell.

Answer 5

Pressure increases inside animal cells and swell up until they burst

Pressure also increases in plant cells but the plant cells do not bust instead the plant cell becomes more firm

Answer 6

Animal and plant cells react the same in hypertonic solutions; they both shrivel up because of water loss and could potentially die.

Answer 7

The animal will burst, while in the other case the plant cell wont cause it;s cell wall limits the amount of water able to enter.

Answer 8

Both would become turgid but animal cell might burst .