Having the same solute concentration as another solution is described as

Having the same solute concentration as another solution is described as

• A. Isotonic
• B. Hypertonic
• C. Hypotonic
• D. Osmosis

Answer: (A)

This is about tonicity—the relative solute concentration inside a cell compared to its surroundings. When the outside solution has the same solute concentration as the inside, the situation is isotonic. In this case, there is no net movement of water across the membrane because the osmotic pressure is balanced on both sides, so the cell’s size stays stable. If the outside had more solutes (hypertonic), water would move out and the cell would shrink; if the outside had fewer solutes (hypotonic), water would move in and the cell could swell or burst. Osmosis refers to the movement of water itself, not the description of equal concentrations.

This is about tonicity—the relative solute concentration inside a cell compared to its surroundings. When the outside solution has the same solute concentration as the inside, the situation is isotonic. In this case, there is no net movement of water across the membrane because the osmotic pressure is balanced on both sides, so the cell’s size stays stable. If the outside had more solutes (hypertonic), water would move out and the cell would shrink; if the outside had fewer solutes (hypotonic), water would move in and the cell could swell or burst. Osmosis refers to the movement of water itself, not the description of equal concentrations.