A cell is placed in a solution that is hypotonic to the cell. Which of the following best describes movement of water in this situation?
a. Water will only flow into the cell.
b. Water will only flow out of the cell.
c. Water will flow into and out of the cell, but the overall net movement will be out of the cell.
d. Water will flow into and out of the cell, but the overall net movement will be into the cell.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of tonicity: A solution is hypotonic to a cell when it has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell. This means the water concentration is higher outside the cell than inside.
2. Recall the principle of osmosis: Osmosis is the movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of higher water concentration (lower solute concentration) to an area of lower water concentration (higher solute concentration).
3. Analyze the situation: Since the solution is hypotonic, water will move from the solution (higher water concentration) into the cell (lower water concentration) to balance the solute concentrations.
4. Consider the dynamics of water movement: While water molecules will move in both directions across the membrane, the net movement of water will be into the cell because of the concentration gradient.
5. Determine the best answer: Based on the analysis, the correct description of water movement is that water will flow into and out of the cell, but the overall net movement will be into the cell.

Key Concepts

Osmosis

Osmosis is the 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 equilibrium is reached, where the concentration of solutes is equal on both sides of the membrane. In biological systems, osmosis is crucial for maintaining cell turgor and overall homeostasis.

Hypotonic Solutions

A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of a cell. When a cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, water moves into the cell to balance the solute concentrations. This influx of water can cause the cell to swell and potentially burst if the osmotic pressure becomes too great.

Net Movement of Water

The net movement of water refers to the overall direction of water flow when considering both the inflow and outflow of water molecules. In a hypotonic environment, while water may move in and out of the cell, the net movement will be into the cell due to the higher concentration of solutes inside the cell, leading to an increase in cell volume.