Question

cells and body systems unit test
recall what you know about hypertonic, hypotonic, and isotonic solutions. what happens to the cell in a hypotonic solution? (1 point)
the cell has more solute than its environment, so solvent moves from outside the cell to inside the cell, causing the cell to swell.
the cell has less solute that its environment, so solvent moves from inside the cell to outside the cell, causing the cell to shrink.
the cell and the environment have an equal amount of solute, so there is no net movement of solvent in and out of the cell.
the cell has less solute in its environment, so the cell membrane extends around the solute and takes it out of the cell.

Explanation:

• In a hypotonic solution, the concentration of solute outside the cell is lower than that inside the cell.
• According to the principle of osmosis, solvent (water) moves from an area of lower solute concentration (outside the cell) to an area of higher solute concentration (inside the cell).
• This movement of water into the cell causes the cell to swell.

Answer:

The cell has more solute than its environment, so solvent moves from outside the cell to inside the cell, causing the cell to swell.