Question

If a cell is in a hypotonic environment, this means
A) There are fewer solutes inside the cell than in the extracellular medium.
B) There is an equal amount of solute inside as outside the cell.
C) There is more solute outside the cell than inside the cell
D) There is less solute outside the cell than inside the cell

Answer 1

-Osmosis is defined as the movement of a solvent across a semipermeable membrane from a higher concentration of solvent (lower concentration of solute) to a lower concentration of solvent (higher concentration of solute).

Complete answer-
Osmosis leads to the development of three types of solutions- isotonic solution, hypotonic solution and hypertonic solution. Isotonic solution is where the concentration of solutes on both sides of the cell is equal. Hypotonic solution is the one where the solute concentration is higher outside the cell than inside the cell and hypertonic solution is one where the solute concentration inside the cell is higher than outside. Osmosis can also be categorised in two types based on the type of solution- endosmosis and exosmosis. Endosmosis occurs when a substance is placed in a hypotonic solution that causes solvent molecules to enter into the swelling leading to its swelling and exosmosis occurs when a substance is placed in a hypertonic solution that causes the solvent molecules to move out of the cell causing shrinkage.

So the correct answer is option C) There is more solute outside the cell than inside the cell.

Note-
Osmosis is highly important in biological processes since it helps in the transport of nutrients and release of waste products, maintains turgidity of the cell, maintains the fluid levels of the cells, etc.