A cell is dropped into a saltwater solution and shrivels up. You infer that, compared to the cell, the type of saltwater solution is

Question

A. isotonic
B. tonic
C. hypertonic
D. hypotonic

Answer 1

The correct answer is C. hypertonic.

When a cell is dropped into a hypertonic solution, the concentration of solutes outside the cell is higher than that inside the cell. As a result, water moves out of the cell to balance the solute concentrations, causing the cell to shrivel.