After soaking for one hour in a solution of unknown concentration, a slice of potato appears to be very soft and limp. You can determine that the solution is

Red blood cells are animal cells that lack a cell wall, a rigid structure that surrounds the cell membrane of plant cells, such as Elodea cells. A cell wall provides support and protection for the cell, and prevents excessive water uptake or loss. Red blood cells, on the other hand, rely on the osmotic balance of their environment to maintain their shape and function. If red blood cells are placed in a hypotonic solution, where the water concentration is higher outside than inside the cell, they will swell and burst due to osmosis. This is called hemolysis. If red blood cells are placed in a hypertonic solution, where the water concentration is lower outside than inside the cell, they will shrink and lose their ability to carry oxygen. This is called crenation.

Elodea cells, however, can withstand hypotonic or hypertonic solutions without bursting or shrinking, because their cell wall prevents the water from entering or leaving the cell beyond a certain point. Therefore, a major difference between red blood cells and Elodea cells is that Elodea cells have a cell wall, which protects them from bursting.

Choice A rationale: High power is incorrect because high power is the second highest magnification objective lens, not the highest. High power is also called the 40x objective lens because it magnifies the specimen by 40 times. When combined with the 10x eyepiece lens, the total magnification is 400x.

Choice B rationale: Oil immersion is correct because oil immersion is the highest magnification objective lens. Oil immersion is also called the 100x objective lens because it magnifies the specimen by 100 times. When combined with the 10x eyepiece lens, the total magnification is 1000x. Oil immersion requires oil to be applied between the slide and the lens to reduce the refraction of light and increase the clarity of the image.

Choice C rationale: Low power is incorrect because low power is the second lowest magnification objective lens, not the highest. Low power is also called the 10x objective lens because it magnifies the specimen by 10 times. When combined with the 10x eyepiece lens, the total magnification is 100x.

Choice D rationale: Scanning is incorrect because scanning is the lowest magnification objective lens, not the highest. Scanning is also called the 4x objective lens because it magnifies the specimen by 4 times. When combined with the 10x eyepiece lens, the total magnification is 40x. Scanning is used to scan the whole slide and find the specimen.