Which term refers to a solution with equal solute concentration inside and outside the cell?

Which term refers to a solution with equal solute concentration inside and outside the cell?

• A. Hypotonic
• B. Hypertonic
• C. Isotonic
• D. Hadal Zone

Answer: (C)

Movement of water across a cell membrane depends on solute differences; tonicity describes what happens to the cell. Equal solute concentrations inside and outside define an isotonic solution, so there is no net water movement and the cell stays the same size. If the outside has less solute (hypotonic), water enters and the cell swells; if the outside has more solute (hypertonic), water leaves and the cell shrinks. The Hadal Zone is unrelated to this concept.

Movement of water across a cell membrane depends on solute differences; tonicity describes what happens to the cell. Equal solute concentrations inside and outside define an isotonic solution, so there is no net water movement and the cell stays the same size. If the outside has less solute (hypotonic), water enters and the cell swells; if the outside has more solute (hypertonic), water leaves and the cell shrinks. The Hadal Zone is unrelated to this concept.