A plant cell placed in pure water does not burst because
- A. the rigid cellulose wall resists further expansion once the cell is turgid
- B. water cannot enter the cell at all
- C. the vacuole absorbs the excess water permanently
- D. the plasma membrane is impermeable to water
Explanation
Water enters by osmosis until the wall pushes back with a pressure equal to the inward osmotic pull, and the cell stops taking in more water and is described as turgid. Turgor is what supports herbaceous plants, so wilting follows when it is lost. An animal cell has no wall and therefore does burst in the same conditions.
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