Question

If a solution surrounding a cell is hypotonic relative to the inside of the cell, in which direction will water move?

Answer 1

The direction of motion of water molecules will be into the cell.

Step-by-step explanation:

• A hypotonic solution is one which has the less concentration of solute in the solvent as compared to the solution on the other side of the semi-permeable membrane.

• This creates an osmotic pressure gradient across the semi-permeable membrane which is responsible for the flow of water molecules across the membrane until the concentration becomes equal for both the solutions.

• (A semi-permeable membrane is a sheet or a plane barrier which does not allows the molecules over certain size to pass through it. Here the membrane does not allows the molecules larger in size than that of water molecules to pass through it.)

Answer 2

If the cell is placed in a surrounding solution which is hypotonic in nature.

Then the water from outside of the cell to the inside of the cell. The water will keep on moving from the outside of the cell to the inside of the cell.

The flow of water will take place until the outside environment of the cell and the inside of the cell becomes equal.

The flow of water will take place from the outside of the cell to the inside of the cell.