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2017Q3(a)(iii)Absorption by Roots – The Processes Involved
Short answerHard1 mark
3(a)

The diagram given below represents a plant cell after being placed in a strong sugar solution. Study the diagram and answer the questions that follow: The diagram given below represents a plant cell after being placed in a strong sugar solution. Study the diagram and answer the questions that follow:

Figure for this question

Label the parts numbered 1 to 4 in the diagram.

Topic: Parts of a plasmolysed cell

Previous-year question practice database

Answer

Exam answer

1 — CELL WALL 2 — STRONG SUGAR SOLUTION (the hypertonic solution filling the gap) 3 — CELL MEMBRANE (plasma membrane) 4 — NUCLEUS

Explanation

THE SUBTLE LABEL IS NUMBER 2. Students often think the gap between the protoplasm and the wall is EMPTY, or label it "air". It is filled with the EXTERNAL SUGAR SOLUTION, which entered freely through the cell wall.

That single label is the whole evidence for part (ii): the solution got past the WALL but was stopped by the MEMBRANE, which is what proves the membrane is the selective barrier.

Note the order from outside in: CELL WALL → the gap filled with external solution → CELL MEMBRANE → cytoplasm with the NUCLEUS and shrunken vacuole.

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