Question

suppose a cell wishes to sample the chemical composition of solutes in the extracellular milieu,what mechanism is it most likely to use?

a. exocytosis

b.osmosis

c.phagocytosis

d.pinocytosis

e.receptor-mediated endocytosis

Answer 1

b.osmosis

Osmosis Definition: Osmosis is the process where solvent molecules move through a semipermeable membrane from a dilute solution into a more concentrated solution (which becomes more dilute).

Suppose an animal or a plant cell is placed in a solution of sugar or salt in water.

1. If the medium is hypotonic relative to the cell cytoplasm — the cell will gain water through osmosis.
2. If the medium is isotonic — there will be no net movement of water across the cell membrane.
3. If the medium is hypertonic relative to the cell cytoplasm — the cell will lose water by osmosis.

Essentially, this means that if a cell is put in a solution which has a solute concentration higher than its own, it will shrivel, and if it is put in a solution with a lower solute concentration than its own, the cell will swell and may even burst.

Chemical gardens demonstrate the effect of osmosis in inorganic chemistry.