Osmosis Problems - A

Rule of Thumb: Salt Sucks

I. Label both the cell and the environment as hypotonic, hypertonic, or isotonic.

1. Environment: 10% water 90% salt(solutes)

Cell: ______Environment: ______

2. Environment: 100 % water 0% salt(solutes)

Cell: ______Environment: ______

3.

Environment: 75% water 25% salt(solutes)

Cell: ______Environment: ______

4.

Environment: 65% water 35% salt(solutes)

Cell: ______Environment: ______

II. Read the following questions carefully. Be sure to answer all parts of each question.

5. If a cell contains 85% water is placed into an environment which is 50% water. Is the cell hypotonic, hypertonic or isotonic? In which direction will the water move, into the cell or out of the cell?

6. A cell contains 85% water and is placed into a solution which contains 90% water. Is the solution hypotonic, hypertonic or isotonic? In which direction will the water move, into the cell or out of the cell?

7. If a cell which contains 90% water is placed into an isotonic solution, which percentage of the solution is water?

8. A cell contains 95% water, the environment outside the cell contains 45% solutes. Is the cell hypotonic, hypertonic or isotonic?

9. A cell containing 25% solutes is placed into a solution which contains 35% solutes. Which direction will the water move into the cell or out of the cell?

10. A plant cell containing 95% water is placed into a 10% salt environment. Is the salt solution hypotonic, hypertonic or isotonic? Which direction will the water move?

11. What type of solution is a cell if water leaves the cell when it is placed in a solution? hypotonic or hypertonic

12. Why do hospitals use a saline solution(isotonic salt solution) when someone needs fluids? What would happen to your blood cells if a hypertonic solution was used instead? a hypotonic solution?