In a hypertonic solution, what happens to a cell?

In a hypertonic solution, what happens to a cell?

• A. The cell remains the same
• B. Water diffuses out of the cell when the external solution has a higher solute concentration than the cytosol
• C. Water diffuses into the cell
• D. The external solution dissolves the cell wall

Answer: (B)

Osmosis drives water movement based on solute concentration across a membrane. In a hypertonic solution, the outside has a higher solute concentration than the cytoplasm, so water diffuses out of the cell to balance the concentrations. The loss of water makes the cell shrink, and in plant cells the membrane may pull away from the cell wall (plasmolysis) while animal cells may show crenation. The other statements don’t fit because remaining unchanged would require equal concentrations, water entering occurs in hypotonic conditions, and a hypertonic environment does not dissolve the cell wall.

Osmosis drives water movement based on solute concentration across a membrane. In a hypertonic solution, the outside has a higher solute concentration than the cytoplasm, so water diffuses out of the cell to balance the concentrations. The loss of water makes the cell shrink, and in plant cells the membrane may pull away from the cell wall (plasmolysis) while animal cells may show crenation. The other statements don’t fit because remaining unchanged would require equal concentrations, water entering occurs in hypotonic conditions, and a hypertonic environment does not dissolve the cell wall.