Question

if a cell is placed in an isotonic solution, what will happen? a. the cell will lose water to its environment because water will travel out of the cell due to osmosis. b. the cell will gain water because water will travel into the cell due to osmosis. c. the cell will neither gain nor lose water overall because the concentrations on each side of the membrane are equal. the cell is in equilibrium with its environment. d. the cell will explode.

Explanation:

An isotonic solution has the same solute - to - solvent ratio as the cell's interior. Osmosis is the movement of water across a semi - permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. When in an isotonic solution, there is no net movement of water as the concentration gradient does not exist across the cell membrane.

Answer:

C. The cell will neither gain nor lose water overall because the concentrations on each side of the membrane are equal. The cell is in equilibrium with its environment.