In a hypertonic solution, water moves out of the cell and the cell shrinks.

In a hypertonic solution, water moves out of the cell and the cell shrinks.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only applies to eukaryotes
• D. Only if the cell wall is absent

Answer: (A)

Osmosis drives water movement based on solute concentration across a membrane. In a hypertonic solution, the outside has a higher solute concentration, so water moves out of the cell to balance the gradients. As water leaves, the cell’s volume decreases, so it appears to shrink. In animal cells this is seen as crenation; in plant cells the plasma membrane may pull away from the cell wall (plasmolysis) while the wall itself stays intact. The principle applies to all cells, not just those without a cell wall, because the driving force is the osmotic gradient, though the visible outcome varies with cell structure. Therefore, the statement is true.

Osmosis drives water movement based on solute concentration across a membrane. In a hypertonic solution, the outside has a higher solute concentration, so water moves out of the cell to balance the gradients. As water leaves, the cell’s volume decreases, so it appears to shrink. In animal cells this is seen as crenation; in plant cells the plasma membrane may pull away from the cell wall (plasmolysis) while the wall itself stays intact. The principle applies to all cells, not just those without a cell wall, because the driving force is the osmotic gradient, though the visible outcome varies with cell structure. Therefore, the statement is true.