Question

What are the consequences of the following conditions?

1. A cell containing higher water concentration than the surrounding medium
2. A cell having low water concentration than the surrounding medium.
3. A cell having equal water concentration to its surrounding medium.

Answer 1

a. A cell containing a higher water concentration than the surrounding medium will lose water due to exosomosis. The cell will ultimately shrink.

b. A cell having low water concentration than the surrounding medium will gain water due to endosmosis and the cell will ultimately swell up.

c. A cell having equal water concentration to its surrounding medium will remain in its original state as there is no net movement of water into or out of the cell.