Answer :
I'm here to help! When an artificial cell containing a 2% protein solution is placed in a solution with an 8% protein concentration, osmosis comes into play. Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.
Given that the external solution has a higher protein concentration (8%) compared to the artificial cell (2%), water will move from the cell into the surrounding solution to try to equalize the concentration of protein on both sides. This process continues until equilibrium is reached.
Therefore, the correct prediction for what would happen to the cell after a few hours in this scenario is:
c) The number of water molecules will increase in the cell.
This is because water will move out of the cell to dilute the higher protein concentration in the external solution, causing the cell to take in more water and swell up.
Given that the external solution has a higher protein concentration (8%) compared to the artificial cell (2%), water will move from the cell into the surrounding solution to try to equalize the concentration of protein on both sides. This process continues until equilibrium is reached.
Therefore, the correct prediction for what would happen to the cell after a few hours in this scenario is:
c) The number of water molecules will increase in the cell.
This is because water will move out of the cell to dilute the higher protein concentration in the external solution, causing the cell to take in more water and swell up.
