Answer to Question #48433 in Biology for sophie

Question

If inside an animal cell it has high water potential, then will it be hypertonic or hypotonic? what is the difference between hypertonic and hypotonic?

Answer 1

Water potential is a parameter that shows the tendency of water to move from one area to another due to osmosis, gravity, mechanical pressure, or matrix effects such as capillary action. Water flows from area with high water potential to the area with lower potential. Hypotonic solution has less dissolved molecules and that is why tends to be a donor, while hypertonic solution has more dissolved particles and acts as acceptor of water molecules. It means that environment within cell with high water potential is hypotonic in respect to the surrounding medium. Watermoves from hypotonic to hypertonic solutions.