Question

When a freshly collected Spirogyra filament is kept in a 10% potassium nitrate solution, it is observed that the protoplasm shrinks in size.

(a) What is this phenomenon called?

(b) What will happen if this filament is now placed in distilled water?

Answer 1

(a) Plasmolysis is the phenomenon that takes place when Spirogyra is placed in 10 % potassium nitrate solution (hypertonic solution). 

(b) When Spirogyra is placed in distilled water, it will again reabsorb water, protoplast will again come back in it original shape. This phenomenon is known as deplasmolysis.