A student using a compound light microscope
to study plant cells observed that most of the
cells resembled the one shown in the following
diagram
Which diagram best illustrates how the plant
cell will appear after being placed in a solution
that has a lower water concentration than the
cell?

A plant cell exposed to a medium that is hypertonic with respect to its cytoplasm will be seen under the microscope smaller or contracted with respect to a normal cell.

Explanation:

The options for this question and the correct answer can be seen in the picture.

A plant cell that is placed in a solution with less water concentration with respect to its cytoplasm -which is the same as saying with more solute concentration- will lose water and decrease in volume. In the image it can be seen that the cell wall (rigid) remains with its original shape, while the cell acquires a rounded shape.

The effect of the solution on the cell is due to the phenomenon of osmosis, where water moves -through a semi-permeable membrane- from a place where there is a lower concentration of solutes to another place with a higher concentration, until it reaches equilibrium.

In the picture, the highlighted image is of a normal plant cell, and the diagram that best illustrates how the plant cell will appear after being placed in a solution that has a lower water concentration than the cell is marked in red.

atp is used for energy.