Osmosis Quiz

Example Questions From the Test

• 1An animal cell is transferred from an isotonic solution to distilled water. Assuming its membrane is intact, what change is most likely?
  • It shrinks because water follows solute out of the cell
  • It swells as water enters and may eventually burst
  • It remains unchanged because distilled water contains no particles
  • It builds a rigid cell wall to resist incoming water
• 2Two otherwise identical osmosis experiments begin with the same concentration gradient, but one is kept moderately warmer without damaging the membrane. What is the most likely effect?
  • The direction of net water movement reverses
  • Osmosis stops because warm water cannot cross membranes
  • The initial movement of water is generally faster because molecules have more kinetic energy
  • The initial rate remains exactly the same because temperature affects only solutes
• 3A dialysis bag contains a concentrated sucrose solution and is placed in distilled water. The bag allows water through but not sucrose. What should happen over time?
  • The bag should lose mass because sucrose draws water outward
  • The bag should lose sucrose until its contents become distilled water
  • The bag should maintain exactly the same mass because sucrose cannot cross
  • The bag should gain mass because water moves into it