Question

If cells of onion peel and RBC are separately kept in hypotonic solution, what among the following will take place? Explain the reason for your answer. 

Options

• Both the cells will swell

• RBC will burst easily while cells of onion peel will resist the bursting to some extent.

• a and b both are correct.

• a and b both are correct.

Answer 1

a and b both are correct.

Cells of onion peel are surrounded by a cell wall whereas the RBCs (red blood cells) do not have cell walls. When the cells of onion peel and RBCs are separately kept in a hypotonic solution, RBCs will first swell up and then burst due to endosmosis. However, the cell wall in the cells of the onion peel exerts a counter wall pressure when the cells become fully turgid. This stops further entry of water into the cells and thus the cells do not burst.