D2.3.4 Changes due to water movement in plant tissue

What happens to plant cells in a hypotonic solution?

Water moves into the cells by osmosis, causing them to swell and become turgid.

Define turgid.

Turgid means a plant cell is swollen with water, with the membrane pressing tightly against the cell wall.

Why do plant cells swell in a hypotonic solution?

The hypotonic solution has higher water potential, so water moves into the cell to balance it.

What are the effects of placing plant tissue in a hypotonic solution?

Increased mass and length, and the tissue becomes firm because cells are turgid.

What happens to plant cells in a hypertonic solution?

Water leaves the cells, causing them to shrink and become plasmolysed.

Define plasmolysis.

Plasmolysis is when the cell membrane pulls away from the cell wall due to water loss.

Why do plant cells shrink in a hypertonic solution?

The hypertonic solution has lower water potential, so water moves out of the cell.

What are the effects of placing plant tissue in a hypertonic solution?

Decreased mass and length, and the tissue becomes soft and wilted.

What is an isotonic solution?

A solution with equal solute concentration, causing no net movement of water.

What happens to plant tissue in an isotonic solution?

No net movement of water, so the mass and firmness stay the same.

How do you calculate percentage change in mass or length?

(Final Value − Initial Value) / Initial Value × 100

What is the isotonic point?

The point where there is no net change in mass or length, showing equal solute concentration.

How do you determine the isotonic point graphically?

Plot percentage change vs. solute concentration and find where the line crosses the x-axis.

What is standard deviation?

A measure of how spread out the data is.

What is standard error?

An estimate of how close the sample mean is to the real population mean, calculated as SD ÷ √sample size.

Why are control variables important in osmosis experiments?

They make sure results only change because of solute concentration, not other factors.

What is a practical tip for measuring changes in plant tissue?

Dry the tissue before measuring to avoid extra water affecting the results.

Why is understanding water movement in plant tissue important?

It helps in agriculture and food preservation by predicting how cells behave in different environments.