Question

Mammalian liver cells will swell up when kept in

(a) hypertonic solution

(b) hypotonic solution

(c) isotonic solution

(d) isothermal solution

Answer 1

Answer is : (b) hypotonic solution

When mammalian liver cells are kept in a hypotonic solution, endosmosis occurs as the cell is hypertonic. Due to the endosmosis, the cellular protoplasm is filled with water, it swells and the cells become turgid. Swelling is seen because the water flows from lower concentration of solute to the higher concentration of solute.