Osmosis & Osmolarity: 3. Membrane Semi-Permeability
SEMI-PERMEABLE NATURE OF CELLULAR MEMBRANES
Isotonic solution
- Solution has same solute concentration as the inside of the cell
Hypertonic solution
- Solution has greater solute concentration than the inside of the cell
Hypotonic solution
- Solution has less solute concentration than the inside of the cell
If a red blood cell is placed in a:
- Isotonic solution - water freely diffuses in and out of the cell at equilibrium
- Hypertonic solution - water diffuses out of the cell and the cell shrivels up
- Hypotonic solution - water diffuses into the cell and the cell lyses