Final answer:
A hypotonic solution has a below normal concentration of nonpenetrating solutes, leading to a higher concentration of water outside the cell, causing water to move into the cell. This can cause cells to swell and lyse, unlike in hypertonic solutions where cells shrink and in isotonic solutions where cell shape is maintained.
Step-by-step explanation:
A solution with a below normal concentration of nonpenetrating solutes and therefore a higher concentration of water is known as a hypotonic solution. In biology, this concept is crucial when discussing osmosis, the diffusion of water across a semipermeable membrane. When cells are placed in a hypotonic solution, there is a net movement of water into the cells due to a higher water concentration outside the cell compared to the inside. This can cause the cells to swell and potentially lyse (burst) if the influx of water is too great.
Conversely, a hypertonic solution has a higher solute concentration than the cell's interior, leading to water moving out of the cell, resulting in crenation (shrinking). An isotonic solution has the same solute concentration as the cell's interior, resulting in no net water movement and maintaining cell stability. Understanding these types of solutions and their effects on cells is essential in fields such as medicine and biology.