What is Hypertonic Solution?
Hypotonic solution is the solution that has lower water potential than the other solution.
Water Concentration and Solute Concentration of a Cell in a Hypertonic Solution
Water concentration: Water concentration inside the cell is higher than outside the cell.
Solute Concentration: Solute concentration inside the cell is lower than outside the cell.
Effect of Hypertonic Solution on Animal Cell
- If an animal cell such as red blood cell is placed into a hypertonic solution, water molecules is transported out from the red blood cells by osmosis (as shown in the diagram above).
- The red blood cells will shrink due to the lost of water from the cell and probably die.
- The red blood cells are said to undergo crenation .
- When a plant cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, water molecules is transported out from the cell by osmosis.
- The vacuole and cytoplasm are then shrink due to lost of water.
- The plasma membrane is pulled away from the cell wall..
- The process is called plasmolysed.