To determine which cell will appear the smallest over time, we need to consider how cells interact with their surrounding solutions. This involves understanding osmosis, which is the movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane.
1. Cell W and the Saltier Solution:
- When a cell is placed in a saltier solution (hypertonic solution), the concentration of salts outside the cell is higher than inside.
- Water moves out of the cell into the surrounding solution to balance the concentration of salts. This process is called osmosis.
- As a result, the cell loses water and shrinks.
2. Cell X and the Less Salty Solution:
- In a solution that is less salty (hypotonic solution), the concentration of salts outside the cell is lower than inside.
- Water moves into the cell from the surrounding solution, causing the cell to swell.
3. Cell Y and the Equally Salty Solution:
- When a cell is placed in an equally salty solution (isotonic solution), the concentration of salts inside and outside the cell are equal.
- There is no net movement of water into or out of the cell, so the cell maintains its original size.
4. Cell Z and Pure Water:
- In pure water, which has no salts (hypotonic solution), the concentration of salts inside the cell is much higher than outside.
- A significant amount of water moves into the cell from the surrounding solution.
- This causes the cell to swell considerably.
Given these interactions:
- Cell W will shrink because it loses water to the saltier solution.
- Cell X will swell because it gains water from the less salty solution.
- Cell Y will remain the same size because there is no net movement of water.
- Cell Z will swell the most because it gains a lot of water from the pure water solution.
Therefore, the cell that will look the smallest over time is cell W.
