The micrograph shows o
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1.1.Draw a diagram of one onion cell after it has been placed in a highly hypertonic solution, labelling the position of the cell membrane, cell wall and vacuole.
1.2.State a definition for the term ‘hypertonic solution’.
1.3.Explain the reasons for the changes to the onion cell in your answer to part (i), with reference to water potential.
1.4.The water potential of the onion cell in the micrograph is -700kPa, and the pressure potential is 900 kPa. Calculate the solute potential of the cell using the equation below.
ψw = ψs + ψp
2.Explain why the calculated value for water potential is always relative to pure water at atmospheric pressure and a temperature of 20 °C.
3.Predict, with a reason, how the solute potential of the cytoplasm of an onion cell would be affected if it was placed in a hypotonic solution.