Question

Cell has:

-50% h2o
-50% solute
Outside of Cell has:
-50% h2o
-50% solute

Is this hypertonic, hypotonic, isotonic?

Answer 1

When both the cell and the outside environment have equal concentrations of water and solute (50% each), the condition is isotonic, with no net water movement and cells maintaining normal function.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a cell has 50% water and 50% solute inside it, and the outside environment also has 50% water and 50% solute, the conditions are said to be isotonic. An isotonic solution means that the solute concentrations inside and outside the cell are approximately equal, resulting in no net movement of water across the cell membrane.

In living systems, when cells and their extracellular environments are isotonic, the concentration of water molecules is the same outside and inside the cells, and the cells maintain their normal shape and function. No net water movement ensures that the cells do not swell or shrink, which is critical for cell survival.

Answer 2

The solution inside and outside the cell is: isotonic.

• When we talk about hypertonic, hypotonic, and isotonic solutions, we're looking at the concentration of solutes (like salt or sugar) in comparison to the concentration of water. In an isotonic solution, the concentration of solutes inside the cell is the same as the concentration of solutes outside the cell. This means that the amount of water entering and leaving the cell is balanced, resulting in no net movement of water. So, in your example, since both the inside and outside of the cell have the same concentration of solutes, the solution is isotonic.