In pure water a red blood cell from an animal will swell and burst but a leaf cell from a plant will not. Which structure in the leaf cell is responsible for this difference?

The difference in behavior between a red blood cell and a leaf cell in pure water is primarily due to the presence of the cell wall in the plant cell. The rigid cell wall provides structural support and prevents the leaf cell from bursting, even when water enters and causes it to swell. In contrast, red blood cells lack a cell wall, making them more susceptible to bursting under the same conditions.