Having a lower concentration of solute inside than the solution outside. Cell Expands.

Having a lower concentration of solute inside than the solution outside. Cell Expands.

• A. Hypertonic
• B. Hypotonic
• C. Isotonic
• D. Equilibrium

Answer: (B)

Osmosis and tonicity determine how water moves across a cell membrane. Water flows toward the side with a higher solute concentration in order to balance solute levels. A solution that has a lower solute concentration than the cell interior is described as hypotonic to the cell. In this situation, water enters the cell, causing it to swell and expand, which is why the described scenario results in cell expansion. If the surrounding solution were hypertonic, water would leave the cell and it would shrink; in an isotonic environment, there’s no net water movement and the cell size stays roughly the same. Equilibrium isn’t a separate tonicity category in this context.

Osmosis and tonicity determine how water moves across a cell membrane. Water flows toward the side with a higher solute concentration in order to balance solute levels. A solution that has a lower solute concentration than the cell interior is described as hypotonic to the cell. In this situation, water enters the cell, causing it to swell and expand, which is why the described scenario results in cell expansion. If the surrounding solution were hypertonic, water would leave the cell and it would shrink; in an isotonic environment, there’s no net water movement and the cell size stays roughly the same. Equilibrium isn’t a separate tonicity category in this context.