Biology / Unit 2 Bio 0351 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Hypotonic, Isotonic, and Hypertonic Solutions
Captions available
The idea
A hypotonic solution draws water in; a hypertonic one draws water out; an isotonic one, matching the cell, moves no net water.
In practice
A red blood cell swells in a hypotonic solution, shrinks in a hypertonic one, holds steady in an isotonic one.
Where people slip
These terms are relative to the cell's own cytoplasm, never a property of the solution alone.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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