Final answer:
The cell is hypertonic as it holds more water than its 50% water exterior environment; thus, water will leave the cell towards the surroundings due to osmosis, potentially causing the cell to shrink.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cell is hypertonic because it contains a higher water concentration than the surrounding environment which has only 50% water. Water will move out of the cell into the surrounding environment to try to reach an equilibrium between the solute concentrations. Osmosis is the process that drives this movement of water from a region of high water concentration to a region of lower water concentration through the cell membrane.
In a hypertonic environment, because the external medium has a higher solute concentration (and thus a lower water concentration) compared to the interior of the cell, water will flow out of the cell. This can result in the cell shrinking, a process known as crenation in animal cells. It's important for cells to maintain a balance in water and solute concentration to prevent damage or destruction.
n this scenario, the cell is hypotonic to the environment. A hypotonic solution has a lower solute concentration outside the cell compared to the inside of the cell. Since water tends to move from areas of low solute concentration to areas of high solute concentration, water will move into the cell in an attempt to equalize the solute concentrations.
Water will move into the cell from the hypertonic environment.