If a solution surrounding a cell is hypertonic relative to the inside of the cell, how will water move? a. It will move into the cell via osmosis. b. It will move out of the cell via osmosis. c. It will not move, because equilibrium exists. d. It will evaporate from the cell surface more rapidly.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the terms: A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes compared to another solution. In this context, the solution outside the cell has more solutes than the inside of the cell.
2. Recall osmosis: Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.
3. Apply osmosis to the problem: Since the external solution is hypertonic, it has a higher solute concentration than the inside of the cell.
4. Predict water movement: Water will move from the inside of the cell (lower solute concentration) to the outside (higher solute concentration) to try to balance the solute concentrations on both sides of the membrane.
5. Choose the correct answer: Based on the movement of water, the correct answer is b. It will move out of the cell via osmosis.

Key Concepts

Osmosis

Osmosis is the passive movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. This process continues until there is an equilibrium in solute concentrations on both sides of the membrane. Understanding osmosis is crucial for predicting how water will move in response to different solute concentrations.

Hypertonic Solution

A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes compared to the inside of a cell. When a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, water will move out of the cell to balance the solute concentrations. This movement can lead to cell shrinkage or crenation, which is essential to understand when analyzing the effects of different solutions on cell behavior.

Equilibrium

Equilibrium in biological systems refers to a state where the concentrations of solutes are equal on both sides of a membrane, resulting in no net movement of water. When equilibrium is reached, the movement of water molecules continues but at equal rates in both directions. Recognizing the concept of equilibrium helps in understanding when and why osmosis occurs in relation to solute concentrations.