Types of Solutions

There are three types of solutions relating to the effects of osmosis on cells.

Hypertonic Solution

• In a hypertonic solution, the solution has a higher solute concentration than that of the cell.
• The water as a result will leave the cell.
• When cells are in a hypertonic solution
• Animal cells would shrink
• Plant cells will have a collapsed vacuoles

Hypotonic Solution

• In a hypotonic solution, the solution has a lower solute concentration than the solute concentration inside the cell
• The water as a result will enter the cell.
• When the cells are in a hypotonic solution
• Animal cells would swell and can burst
• The vacuoles of the plant cell will swell, and the contents of the cell will be pushed against the cell wall

Isotonic Solution

• In an isotonic solution, the concentration of solutes is the same inside the cell as it is outside of the cell
• The cell would not lose water, nor will it gain water.

Diffusion is the net movement from regions of greater concentration to the regions of lesser concentration.

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