Question

Why don't plant cells burst if a lot of water diffuses into them?

Answer 1

The cell wall prevents plant cells from bursting. Cytolysis (the bursting of cells) occurs in animal and plant cells because they lack a cell wall.

Explanation:

Imagine the cell is like a water balloon... placed inside of a jar. Adding more water makes the balloon get bigger, but eventually the balloon will fill the entire space inside of the jar. The jar would keep the balloon from bursting. The cell wall does the same thing for a cell.

![https://useruploads.socratic.org/hYLH1iE6SC2l5rgukNKN_plant_cell_osmosis.jpg)

The added water makes the cells turgid (high pressure inside of the cell) so the plant looks healthy rather than wilted.

This analogy is used to explain the process of omosis (diffusion of water) in red onion cells in the video below.

Hope this helps!