A cell placed in solution swells up. The solution is:

A cell that swells up when placed in a solution is experiencing a process called osmosis. This occurs when the solution outside the cell has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell.

Understanding Osmosis

In simpler terms, osmosis is the movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane. Water moves from an area of higher concentration (outside the cell) to an area of lower concentration (inside the cell) to balance the solute levels.

Characteristics of the Solution

• Hypotonic Solution: The solution has fewer solutes compared to the inside of the cell.
• Water Movement: Water enters the cell, causing it to swell.
• Potential Effects: If too much water enters, the cell may burst.

In summary, a cell swells in a hypotonic solution due to water moving in to balance solute concentrations. This is a key concept in biology related to how cells interact with their environment.