A hypotonic solution has what effect on a cell?

A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of a cell. When a cell is placed in this type of environment, water moves into the cell via osmosis, aiming to equalize solute concentrations on both sides of the cell membrane. As water continues to enter, the cell swells. If the influx of water is significant enough, it can lead to the cell bursting, a process known as lysis. This phenomenon highlights the behavior of cells in varying osmotic conditions, demonstrating the importance of osmoregulation in cellular health. In contrast, the other options describe states that do not occur in a hypotonic environment; thus, they do not accurately represent the physiological response of a cell in such a solution.