In a hypertonic solution, what happens to a cell?

In a hypertonic solution, what happens to a cell?

• A. The cell stays the same
• B. Water moves out of the cell and the cell shrinks
• C. Water moves into the cell and the cell swells
• D. The cell ruptures

Answer: (B)

In a hypertonic solution, the outside has more solutes than the inside, so water moves out of the cell by osmosis to balance concentrations. As water leaves, the cell loses volume and shrinks (crenation in animal cells). If water moved into the cell, that would happen in a hypotonic solution, not hypertonic. If the cell ruptured, that would require excessive swelling from water influx, which isn’t driven by a hypertonic environment. If the cell stayed the same, the external solution would be isotonic. So, the water exits and the cell shrinks.

In a hypertonic solution, the outside has more solutes than the inside, so water moves out of the cell by osmosis to balance concentrations. As water leaves, the cell loses volume and shrinks (crenation in animal cells). If water moved into the cell, that would happen in a hypotonic solution, not hypertonic. If the cell ruptured, that would require excessive swelling from water influx, which isn’t driven by a hypertonic environment. If the cell stayed the same, the external solution would be isotonic. So, the water exits and the cell shrinks.