Hypertonic and Hypotonic Solutions - Science MCQ-Ask Any Question And Search For Answer

💧 Hypertonic and Hypotonic Solutions 💧

In chemistry and biology, the terms hypertonic and hypotonic are used to describe the concentration of solutes in one solution compared to another, often across a semipermeable membrane such as the cell membrane.

🔹 Understanding the Concept of Tonicity

Tonicity refers to the ability of a surrounding solution to cause a cell to gain or lose water. It depends on the concentration of solutes (like salts, sugars, or ions) that cannot cross the membrane.

🔹 What is a Hypertonic Solution?

A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes than the inside of a cell. When a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, water moves out of the cell, causing it to shrink or become plasmolyzed in plant cells.

Example: When a red blood cell is placed in a concentrated salt solution, it shrinks due to water loss.

🔹 What is a Hypotonic Solution?

A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes than the inside of a cell. Water moves into the cell, causing it to swell or even burst (lysis in animal cells, turgid in plant cells).

Example: When a red blood cell is placed in distilled water, it swells and may burst.

🔹 Comparison Between Hypertonic and Hypotonic Solutions

Property	Hypertonic Solution	Hypotonic Solution
Solute Concentration	Higher outside the cell	Lower outside the cell
Water Movement	Moves out of the cell	Moves into the cell
Effect on Animal Cell	Cell shrinks (crenation)	Cell swells or bursts (lysis)
Effect on Plant Cell	Cell becomes plasmolyzed	Cell becomes turgid

🔹 Diagram: Osmosis in Cells

🔹 Summary

The behavior of cells in hypertonic and hypotonic environments demonstrates the vital role of osmosis in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Understanding these concepts is crucial for studies in chemistry, biology, and medicine.

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