Which Type of Solution Causes a Plant Cell to Become Turgid?

A plant cell becomes **turgid** when placed in a **hypotonic solution**.

When a plant cell is surrounded by a hypotonic solution, which has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell, water moves into the cell. This influx of water primarily fills and expands the large central vacuole. As the vacuole swells, it pushes the cytoplasm against the rigid cell wall.

Based on the provided reference: "The cell also gets **turgid** when placed inside a **hypotonic solution**. A vacuole gets **turgid** inside the cell when the rate of transpiration is high and it stores a large amount of water. It is also known as **hydrostatic pressure**." This confirms that the hypotonic environment is key to causing turgidity. The pressure exerted by the swollen vacuole against the cell wall is called **turgor pressure**, which the reference also refers to as **hydrostatic pressure**.

## Understanding Turgidity in Plant Cells

Turgidity is crucial for plant health and structure. It provides rigidity, helps maintain the plant's shape, and is involved in processes like leaf movements and the opening/closing of stomata.

*   **Hypotonic Environment:** This is the condition where the concentration of dissolved substances (solutes) outside the cell is lower than inside the cell.
*   **Water Movement:** Due to the difference in solute concentration, water moves from the hypotonic solution *into* the plant cell through the process of <ins>osmosis</ins>.
*   **Vacuole Expansion:** The inflowing water collects primarily in the large central vacuole, causing it to expand significantly.
*   **Pressure Build-up:** As the vacuole expands, it pushes the cell contents against the cell wall. The cell wall is strong and resists this pressure, creating **turgor pressure**. This internal pressure is what makes the cell, and consequently the plant tissue, firm and rigid – i.e., **turgid**.
*   **Reference Insight:** The reference also notes that the vacuole becomes turgid and stores water when the rate of transpiration is high, linking water balance within the plant to cellular turgidity.

In summary, the presence of a **hypotonic solution** external to the plant cell facilitates the entry of water, leading to the swelling of the vacuole and the build-up of internal pressure against the cell wall, resulting in a **turgid** state.