5005 Praxis Practice Test Practice Question
When onion cells are placed in a 5% table salt solution, the plasma membranes shrink away from the cell walls. This results from the net movement of
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When onion cells are placed in a hypertonic solution like 5% table salt, water moves out of the cells to balance the concentration of solutes outside. This loss of water causes the plasma membrane to shrink away from the cell wall, a process known as plasmolysis.
Option A is incorrect because water does not enter the cells; instead, it exits. Options C and D are also incorrect as they refer to the movement of salt. Salt ions cannot significantly penetrate the cell membrane, so the primary movement in this scenario is water, leading to the observed shrinkage of the plasma membrane.
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