If cell of onion peel and RBC are separately placed in hypotonic solution, what among the following will take place?

Option (c) is correct—both statements (a) and (b) are accurate. When placed in a hypotonic solution (where the external solution has lower solute concentration than the cell's interior), both onion peel cells and red blood cells (RBCs) will initially swell as water enters through osmosis. However, their subsequent behavior differs dramatically due to structural differences. The RBC will burst (undergo hemolysis) relatively quickly because it has only a flexible cell membrane without any rigid outer protection, making it unable to withstand the increasing internal pressure as water continues to enter.

The onion peel cell, in contrast, will resist bursting for a considerable time and may not burst at all due to the presence of a rigid cellulose cell wall surrounding the cell membrane. As water enters the onion cell, the cell membrane expands and presses against the cell wall, which provides counter-pressure known as wall pressure or turgor pressure. This opposing force eventually balances the osmotic pressure, preventing further water entry and cell rupture. The cell becomes turgid (fully swollen and firm) rather than lysed. This fundamental difference highlights why plant cells can tolerate hypotonic environments that would be fatal to animal cells—their cell wall acts as a protective exoskeleton that maintains cell integrity even under osmotic stress.