Question

a cell will swell and likely burst if it is placed in ________ solution. answer options: a hypertonic, a hypo - osmotic, a hypotonic, an isotonic, i dont know yet

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• A hypertonic solution has a higher solute concentration outside the cell, so water leaves the cell, causing it to shrink.
• A hypo - osmotic solution is related to osmotic pressure, but the more common term in cell osmosis is hypotonic. Hypo - osmotic is not the standard term used here for this context.
• A hypotonic solution has a lower solute concentration outside the cell than inside. So, water moves into the cell by osmosis, causing the cell to swell and potentially burst (especially in animal cells which don't have a cell wall to resist the pressure).
• An isotonic solution has equal solute concentrations inside and outside the cell, so there is no net movement of water, and the cell remains the same size.

Answer:

C. a hypotonic