When an animal cell is suddenly exposed to a solution with a much higher solute concentration (hypertonic solution) than the interior of the cell, the following changes would occur:
Water Movement: Water tends to move from areas of lower solute concentration to areas of higher solute concentration to equalize the solute concentration on both sides of the cell membrane. In this case, water from inside the cell will move out into the hypertonic solution.
Cell Shrinkage (Plasmolysis): As water leaves the cell, it will lose water volume and start to shrink. This process is known as plasmolysis. The cell membrane will detach from the cell wall (if present), and the cell will become dehydrated.
Cell Function Impairment: The loss of water and the shrinking of the cell can lead to impaired cell function. Cellular processes that rely on a specific cell volume, such as enzyme activity and nutrient transport, may be disrupted.
Increase in Solute Concentration: The solute concentration inside the cell will become more concentrated due to the loss of water. This can affect the chemical reactions and osmotic balance within the cell.
To describe the situation in terms of tonicity:
- The external solution is hypertonic to the animal cell because it has a higher solute concentration than the cell's interior.
- The interior of the cell is hypotonic relative to the external solution because it has a lower solute concentration.
In summary, when an animal cell is exposed to a hypertonic solution, it will lose water, shrink, and experience functional impairments due to the osmotic movement of water from inside the cell to the hypertonic environment. This can have significant consequences for the cell's health and functioning.