A cell placed in a strong salt solution, will shrink because

Options

A. A. The cytoplasm will decompose
B. B. Mineral salts will break the cell wall
C. C. Salt will leave the cell
D. D.  Water will leave by exosmosis

Answer

To understand why a cell placed in a strong salt solution will shrink, we can break down the process step by step.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Osmosis**: Osmosis is the movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.

2. **Cell in Salt Solution**: When a cell is placed in a strong salt solution, the concentration of solutes (salt) outside the cell is higher than the concentration of solutes inside the cell.

3. **Water Movement**: Due to osmosis, water will move out of the cell (where the solute concentration is lower) into the salt solution (where the solute concentration is higher).

4. **Result of Water Loss**: As water leaves the cell, the volume of the cytoplasm decreases, causing the cell to shrink. This process is known as exosmosis.

5. **Final Outcome**: The cell becomes flaccid or plasmolyzed, which means it has lost turgor pressure and appears shriveled.

### Conclusion:
The correct answer to the question is that the cell shrinks because water leaves the cell due to osmosis in response to the high concentration of salt outside the cell.