OSMOSIS--Plasmolysis--Plant cells (Elodea) exposed to Hypertonic Solution (5% NaCl) showing loss of Water, 100X - Stockfoto

OSMOSIS--Plasmolysis--Plant cells (Elodea) exposed to a Hypertonic Solution (5% NaCl) showing loss of Water, 100X. The protoplast (especially the cytoplasm) has shrunk because a considerable amount of water has left moving through the cell membrane toward the concentrated salt solution--notice the considerable amount of space not showing chloroplasts. The cell to the right shows a normal protoplast with many chloroplasts, many of which are close to the cell wall. The cell membrane is semi-permeable.