Question

What does it mean for an environment to be isotonic?

Answers

GPT 3.5
An isotonic environment refers to a situation where the concentration of solutes (e.g., salts, sugars, proteins) outside a cell or organism is equal to the concentration inside the cell or organism. In this context, "iso" means equal, and "tonic" refers to solute concentration.

In an isotonic environment, there is no net movement of water across the cell membrane. As a result, cells do not experience significant changes in size and shape. They retain their normal structure and function since the concentration of solutes inside and outside the cell is balanced.

Isotonicity is vital for the overall well-being and proper functioning of cells and organisms. When an organism experiences an isotonic environment, it can maintain internal homeostasis and carry out biochemical processes effectively.

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