Humber Admissions Practice Test 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide for Humber College Admissions

In a hypotonic solution, the concentration of solutes outside the cell is lower than that inside the cell. This creates a scenario in which water moves into the cell through osmosis in an attempt to equalize solute concentrations. As water enters the cell, it causes the cell to swell significantly. If too much water flows in, the internal pressure can exceed the structural limits of the cell membrane, leading to the cell bursting, a process known as lysis.

This phenomenon is particularly relevant in animal cells, which lack a rigid cell wall found in plant cells. While plant cells can also take in water and swell, they have a cell wall that helps prevent bursting by exerting pressure (turgor), resulting in a firm and turgid state rather than bursting. In summary, in a hypotonic solution, the influx of water can lead to cellular bursting due to the osmotic imbalance, making this the correct understanding of what occurs in such environments.