Animal Cells in Pure Water
* Osmosis: Pure water has a higher water concentration than the inside of an animal cell. This creates a concentration gradient, driving water molecules to move into the cell via osmosis.
* Swelling and Lysis: As water enters, the cell swells. Animal cells lack a rigid cell wall, so they can't withstand the pressure from the incoming water. Eventually, the cell membrane may rupture, leading to cell death (lysis).
Plant Cells in Pure Water
* Osmosis: Like animal cells, water moves into the plant cell via osmosis.
* Turgor Pressure: Plant cells have a rigid cell wall. As water enters, the cell swells, but the cell wall pushes back, creating turgor pressure. This pressure helps maintain the plant's structural integrity and keeps the cell firm.
* No Lysis: The cell wall prevents the cell from bursting even with significant water influx.
Key Difference:
The key difference lies in the presence of a cell wall in plant cells. This rigid structure provides resistance to the inward pressure of water, preventing lysis. Animal cells lack this protective layer, making them vulnerable to bursting in hypotonic (low solute concentration) environments.
In Summary:
Animal cells in pure water swell and lyse due to the lack of a cell wall to resist the pressure from incoming water. Plant cells, on the other hand, can tolerate water influx due to their cell wall, which creates turgor pressure and maintains cell integrity.
