When a cell is placed in solution and the size of the cell increases, the concentration of solution is said to be
Answer Details
When a cell is placed in a solution and the size of the cell increases, the concentration of the solution can be described as hypotonic.
This means that the solution has a lower concentration of solutes (dissolved particles) compared to the inside of the cell. As a result, water molecules move into the cell in an attempt to balance the concentration of solutes on both sides of the cell membrane.
This influx of water can cause the cell to swell and potentially burst, a process known as lysis. In contrast, if the solution has a higher concentration of solutes than the inside of the cell, it is considered hypertonic, and water will move out of the cell, causing it to shrink. If the concentrations are balanced, the solution is isotonic, and there is no net movement of water across the cell membrane.