Tonicity: Hypertonic, Isotonic & Hypotonic solutions MCQ - Practice Questions with Answers

• Tonicity is the concentration of a cell due to its cytoplasm or cell sap.
• A solution can be described according to its tonicity w.r.t the tonicity of the cell.
• Accordingly, there are three types of solutions:

1. Hypotonic Solution: A solution whose concentration is lesser than that of the cell.
2. Hypertonic Solution: A solution whose concentration is more than that of the cell.
3. Isotonic Solution: A solution whose concentration is equal to that of the cell.

• These solutions will show the following osmotic effect on the cell when it is placed in them:
  • When a cell is placed in the hypotonic solution, water from the hypotonic solution will move inside the cell because of the higher concentration of cell sap. The cell will increase in its volume. This is called endosmosis.
  • When a cell is placed in the hypertonic solution, water from the cell sap will move into the hypertonic solution because of the higher concentration of the solution. The cell will decrease in its volume. This is called exosmosis.
  • When a cell is placed in the isotonic solution, there will be no net movement of water molecules. There will be no change in the volume of the cell.