Question

General Biology Laboratory 101: What is the reasons for why the volume of the cell in hypertonic solution has reduced, and why it increased in the hypotonic solution?

Answer 1

A cell's volume decreases in a hypertonic solution due to water leaving the cell, while it increases in a hypotonic solution because water enters the cell. Excessive conditions in either scenario can be damaging or fatal to the cell. Cells remain stable in isotonic conditions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The volume of a cell in a hypertonic solution reduces because the solution has a higher concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell. This causes water to leave the cell to balance the solute concentration across the cell membrane, resulting in cell shrinkage. Conversely, a cell increases in volume in a hypotonic solution because the extracellular fluid has a lower concentration of solutes than the cell's cytoplasm. This results in water entering the cell to achieve equilibrium, causing the cell to swell.

In extreme conditions, the functionality of a cell can be compromised. In a hypertonic solution, the excessive loss of water can lead to the cell shriveling and potentially dying. In a hypotonic solution, too much water entering the cell might cause the cell to burst, known as lysis in animal cells or reaching full turgidity in plant cells.

An isotonic environment, where the solute and solvent concentrations are equal inside and outside the cell, is typically ideal because it allows cells to maintain their shape and function without the stress of water moving in or out to a significant extent.

Answer 2

In a hypertonic solution, the solvent inside of the cell rushes out, causing the cell to shrivel and lose volume. In a hypotonic solution, the solvent rushes into the cell, causing it to expand and gain volume. This happens because of diffusion, which explains that molecules in the solvent will move from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.