You observe under a compound microscope the three slides you prepared. This is what you will see.
Slide 1: Onion cells in distilled water (hypotonic solution)
Slide 2: Onion cells in 0.9% NaCl (isotonic solution)
Slide 3: Onion cells in 6% NaCl (hypertonic solution)
You: The plasma membrane of the onion cell in 6% NaCl solution is detached from the cell wall compared to onion cell in distilled water and 0.9% NaCl solution which have not detached!
Prof. Smith: Very nice! Based on what we mentioned earlier, what is the meaning of this change?
You: Um.. this means the water has moved out of the cell because 6% NaCl is a hypertonic solution, and this is called plasmolysis.
Prof. Smith: Well done!
What terminologies can we use to explain the cell structural changes we observe for onion cells in distilled water (hypotonic solution) and 0.9% NaCl solution (isotonic solution), respectively?