Question

When an environment is hypotonic - meaning the cell has more solute, like salt, than the environment- what happens to the cell in this condition?
Responses

Water moves out of the cell, causing the cell to shrink
Water moves out of the cell, causing the cell to shrink - no response given

Nothing will happen because the cell is in equilibrium
Nothing will happen because the cell is in equilibrium - no response given

Water moves into the cell, causing the cell to swell.
Water moves into the cell, causing the cell to swell. - no response given

The cell membrane extends around the solute and take it out of the cell

Answers

Answered by GPT-5 mini
Water moves into the cell, causing the cell to swell.

Explanation: Water moves by osmosis from the hypotonic environment (lower solute, higher water) into the cell (higher solute). Animal cells may swell and burst (lyse); plant cells become turgid (firm) because the cell wall resists bursting.

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