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AAT Bioquest

What do the different types of osmotic solutions do?

Posted May 31, 2024


Answer

In an isotonic solution,  the concentration of solutes is equal both inside and outside the cell. As a result, there is no net movement of water in or out of the cell because the concentration gradient is the same. 

In a hypertonic solution, there's a higher concentration of solutes outside the cell compared to inside. As water leaves the cell to try to balance the higher concentration of solutes outside, the cell loses volume and shrinks. This then causes the cell membrane to shrivel up due to the loss of water.

In hypotonic solutions, there is a concentration of solutes inside the cell that is higher than outside. Water flows into the cell to dilute the higher concentration of solutes inside, causing the cell to swell and  potentially burst.

Additional resources

Osmosis

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