When a potassium ion (K+) moves from the soil into the vacuole of a cell on the surface of a root, itmust pass through several cellular structures. Which of the following correctly describes the order inwhich these structures will be encountered by the ion?
A) plasma membrane → primary cell wall → cytoplasm → vacuole
B) secondary cell wall → plasma membrane → primary cell wall → cytoplasm → vacuole
C) primary cell wall → plasma membrane → cytoplasm → vacuole
D) primary cell wall → plasma membrane → lysosome → cytoplasm → vacuole
E) primary cell wall → plasma membrane → cytoplasm → secondary cell wall → vacuole

C. primary cell wall → plasma membrane → cytoplasm → vacuole.

Explanation:

Every molecule or particle which enters into a cell, it must pass through several cellular structure at different level means it also depends on the type of molecule like size, shape, and nature (characteristics). On the surface of root cell, potassium ion pass through the primary cell wall which is most outer layer of plant cell, then it passes the second layer called plasma membrane, in the plasma membrane cytoplasm is present and when potassium ion reaches the cytoplasm then it will enter into the vacuole present in cytoplasm.

C) primary cell wall → plasma membrane → cytoplasm → vacuole

Explanation:

Structurally from  the soil into the roots, the structure of the root cells is such a way that  k+ enters with water through the primary cell wall → plasma membrane → cytoplasm → vacuole of  the root hairs, and move through apoplastic and sympathic pathways from  the root hairs .

From the root hairs they moved in mass flow in  the xylem vessels. They reentered apoplastic and sympathic pathways again to reach different parts of the plants.

Due to the facts that K+ in the roots cells are of lower water potential,soil water K+  can also move by active transport and facilitated diffusion  from the soil into the (primary cell wall → plasma membrane → cytoplasm → vacuole roots,) and later switch to apoplastic and sympathic pathways to reach plant parts.