Figure 5 shows some onion cells that have been soaked in a concentrated salt solution - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 4 - 2022 - Paper 1
Question 4
Figure 5 shows some onion cells that have been soaked in a concentrated salt solution.
(i) The cells in Figure 5 have been stained.
Give one reason why the cells ha... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Figure 5 shows some onion cells that have been soaked in a concentrated salt solution - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 4 - 2022 - Paper 1
Step 1
The cells in Figure 5 have been stained. Give one reason why the cells have been stained.
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Answer
The cells have been stained to make the cell structure, such as the nucleus and cytoplasm, more visible under the microscope.
Step 2
Which is the name of the structure labelled V?
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Answer
The structure labelled V is the vacuole.
Step 3
Explain why the cytoplasm shrinks away from the sides of the cell when the cells are in salt solution.
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Answer
The cytoplasm shrinks away from the sides of the cell because the salt solution is hypertonic compared to the cell's internal environment. Water moves out of the cell by osmosis to balance the solute concentration, leading to a decrease in the volume of the cytoplasm and causing it to pull away from the cell wall.