The most important metabolic pathway of living organisms is photosynthesis because its products directly or indirectly affect most living organisms.

True or False?

Choice A rationale: The solute concentration of the cytoplasm inside the cell is correct because tonicity is a measure of how the solution affects the movement of water across the cell membrane by osmosis. Osmosis is the process by which water moves from a region of high water concentration to a region of low water concentration. The water concentration of a solution is determined by the solute concentration of the solution. The higher the solute concentration, the lower the water concentration, and vice versa. Therefore, tonicity compares the solute concentration of the solution outside the cell to the solute concentration of the cytoplasm inside the cell.

Choice B rationale: The permeability of the cell membrane is incorrect because permeability is a property of the cell membrane that determines how easily molecules can pass through it, not a measure of tonicity. The cell membrane is selectively permeable, meaning that it allows some molecules to cross, but not others. The cell membrane is permeable to water, but not to most solutes.

Choice C rationale: The swelling of the cell is incorrect because swelling is a result of tonicity, not a measure of it. Swelling occurs when a cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, which has a higher concentration of water and lower concentration of solute than the cell. In a hypotonic solution, water moves into the cell and out of the solution by osmosis, causing the cell to swell.

Choice D rationale: The number of cell fragments inside the cell is incorrect because cell fragments are pieces of broken cells that have no relation to tonicity. Cell fragments can be produced by mechanical damage, apoptosis, or necrosis, but they do not affect the solute concentration of the cytoplasm or the solution.

Choice E rationale: The presence of a cell wall is incorrect because the cell wall is a structure that surrounds the cell membrane in some cells, such as plant cells, but it does not affect tonicity. The cell wall is made of cellulose, a polysaccharide that is resistant to water. The cell wall provides mechanical support and prevents the cell from bursting in a hypotonic solution, but it does not change the solute concentration of the cytoplasm or the solution.

Choice A rationale: Iodine is a chemical element that forms a brown solution of iodine and potassium iodide, known as iodine solution. When this solution is added to a sample that contains starch, it forms a complex with the starch molecules, which changes the color of the solution to blue-black. This is based on the fact that starch is a polysaccharide that has a helical structure, which can trap the iodine molecules inside. ²

Choice B rationale: Biuret is a chemical compound that forms a blue solution of copper (II) sulfate and sodium hydroxide, known as biuret reagent. When this reagent is added to a sample that contains proteins or peptides, it forms a complex with the copper (II) ions, which changes the color of the solution to violet or pink. This is based on the fact that proteins and peptides have peptide bonds, which have nitrogen atoms that can coordinate with the copper (II) ions. ³

Choice C rationale: Benedict's is a chemical compound that forms a blue solution of copper (II) sulfate, sodium carbonate, and sodium citrate, known as Benedict's reagent. When this reagent is heated with a sample that contains reducing sugars, such as glucose or maltose, it reduces the copper (II) ions to copper (I) ions, which form a red, orange, or green precipitate of copper (I) oxide. This is based on the fact that reducing sugars have free aldehyde or ketone groups that can donate electrons to the copper (II) ions. ⁴

Choice D rationale: Phenol red is a chemical compound that forms a red solution that is used as a pH indicator. When this solution is added to a sample that has an acidic or neutral pH, it remains red or turns yellow. When this solution is added to a sample that has an alkaline pH, it turns pink or fuchsia. This is based on the fact that phenol red has a sulfonated hydroxyquinone group that can lose or gain protons depending on the pH of the solution. ⁵

Choice E rationale: Sudan IV is a chemical compound that forms a red powder that is used as a stain for lipids. When this powder is dissolved in a solvent and added to a sample that contains lipids, such as fats or oils, it dissolves in the lipids and stains them red. When this solution is added to a sample that does not contain lipids, it remains in the solvent and does not stain the sample. This is based on the fact that Sudan IV is a nonpolar compound that can dissolve in nonpolar substances like lipids, but not in polar substances like water. ⁶.