Question

Compare hypertonic, hypotonic and isotonic solutions. When an environment is hypotonic what happens to the cell? * 1 point The cells have more solute, so solvent moves from inside the cell to outside the cell, causing it to shrink the cell has more solute, so solvent moves form outside the cell to inside, causing the cell to swell the environment has more solute, so solvents moves form outside the cell to inside, causing the cell to swell the environment has more solute, so solvent moves from inside the cell to outside, causing the cell to shrink

Answer 1

Hypertonic, hypotonic, and isotonic solutions refer to the relative concentration of solutes in solutions compared to the interior of a cell. Here’s a brief comparison:

• Hypertonic Solution: A solution that has a higher concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell. When a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, water flows out of the cell to balance the solute concentrations, causing the cell to shrink (crenate).

• Hypotonic Solution: A solution that has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell. When a cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, water flows into the cell to balance the solute concentrations, causing the cell to swell and potentially burst (lyse).

• Isotonic Solution: A solution that has the same concentration of solutes as the inside of the cell. In an isotonic environment, there is no net movement of water in or out of the cell, so the cell remains the same size.

For your specific question about what happens to a cell in a hypotonic environment, the correct statement is:

"The cell has more solute, so solvent moves from outside the cell to inside, causing the cell to swell."