A student formulated a hypothesis that water-soluble pollutants damage living organisms by increasing the permeability of cellular membranes. To test the hypothesis, the student investigated the effect of isopropanol and acetone on beet root cells. The vacuoles of beet root cells contain large amounts of betacyanin, a water-soluble pigment that is released into the extracellular environment as a result of increased membrane permeability.

The absorbance of 460nm light by the treatment solutions was the test performed by the student.

Explanation:

Cell membranes are phospholipid bilayers which are mostly displayed by the 'fluid mosaic model' which consists of proteins, carbohydrate polymers and glycoproteins making them able to move around quite freely amongst the phospholipids. A normal membrane permeability test involves investigating the effects of a named variable on the membrane permeability of any vegetable such as beetroot whose biological name is Beta Vulgaris. The variables to investigate are the influence of solvents and temperature because these factors can change the fluidity of the membrane. Beetroot is an important item for this test because of the distinctive betalains pigment that its stem tuber contains. These pigments form an important signal indicating membrane fluidity as they are usually contained in the vacuole of intact beetroot cells. An instant or constant increase in membrane fluidity will cause the pigment to spill out of the cell, and the amount of pigment can be measured simply by using a colorimeter.

The above description is performed under the test of The absorbance of 460nm light by the treatment solutions.

Yes, the hypothesis formulated by the student is true.

Explanation:

Water soluble pollutants has a great effect on the permeability of the cell. Higher permeability of the cell is dangerous for the cellular structure. Higher concentration of betacyanin around the beet root cells which is responsible in more absorbance of 460 nm light, this absorbance occurs due to the damage of permeability of the cell because of water soluble pollutants. So the hypothesis made by the student about water soluble pollutants is true and valid.