An innovative professor who wants to give a live demonstration of a physiological process, filled a glass bottle with previously moistened mustard seeds, screw-capped the bottle and kept it away in corner and resumed his lecture. Towards the end of his lecture, there was a sudden explosion with glass pieces of the bottle thrown around. Which of the following phenomenon did the professor wanted to demonstrate?

Options

A. Diffusion
B. Anaerobic respiration
C. Osmosis
D. imbibition

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Experiment**: The professor filled a glass bottle with previously moistened mustard seeds and sealed it. This setup indicates that the seeds are already in contact with water.

2. **Identifying the Process**: The question asks about the physiological process that could lead to an explosion. The key here is to recognize that the seeds will absorb water, which can lead to a significant increase in volume.

3. **Defining Imbibation**: Imbibation is a special type of diffusion where water is absorbed by solids or colloids, causing them to swell. In this case, the mustard seeds are the solids that will absorb water.

4. **Conditions for Imbibation**: For imbibation to occur, two conditions must be met:
- There must be a water potential gradient between the absorbent (the seeds) and the imbibed (the water).
- There must be an affinity between the solid (seeds) and the liquid (water).

5. **Pressure Build-Up**: As the seeds absorb water, they swell and create imbibation pressure. This pressure can build up significantly, especially in a sealed environment like a glass bottle.

6. **Explosion of the Bottle**: The immense pressure created by the swelling seeds can exceed the strength of the glass bottle, leading to an explosion and scattering of glass pieces.

7. **Conclusion**: The phenomenon the professor wanted to demonstrate is imbibation, as it explains the process of water absorption by the seeds and the resultant pressure that caused the explosion.

**Final Answer**: The professor wanted to demonstrate imbibation.

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