Question:
Explain why plant cells require a rigid cell wall considering that plants are generally stationary, whereas animals are capable of movement.
Answer:
Plants remain fixed in one place, so they need strong structural support to maintain their shape and stand upright. The cell wall provides this rigidity and support to plant cells. It also protects the cells from bursting when excess water enters through osmosis.
On the other hand, animals move from one place to another and therefore require flexibility in their body structure. A rigid cell wall would restrict movement. Hence, animal cells only have a flexible cell membrane instead of a cell wall.
Thus, the cell wall is essential in plants for support, protection, and maintaining shape in their stationary lifestyle.
Question:
What would happen to a plant cell if its cell wall lost its rigidity and became flexible like the cell membrane?
Answer:
If the cell wall of a plant cell became flexible like the cell membrane, the cell would lose its firm shape and structural support. The plant would not be able to stand upright properly, and its overall structure would become weak and floppy.
The cell would also become more vulnerable to changes in water pressure. When water enters the cell, it may swell easily and could even burst because there would be no rigid wall to resist the pressure.
Thus, without a rigid cell wall, plant cells would lose their strength, shape, and protection, making the plant unable to maintain its normal structure and function.
Question:
Why is it necessary to take potato pieces of similar size and record their initial weight before placing them in different solutions?
Answer:
Potato pieces should be of nearly equal size and their initial mass should be measured to ensure a fair experiment. If the size or weight of the pieces is different, the results may not be reliable because changes could be due to size differences rather than the effect of the solutions.
Keeping the starting conditions the same allows us to compare the effect of different solutions accurately. Any change in mass after immersion can then be correctly attributed to osmosis, where water moves into or out of the potato cells.