Understanding Hypotonic, Hypertonic and Isotonic Solutions
Hypotonic, hypertonic, and isotonic solutions
solutions contribute to our society.
affect our lives every day. Read on to learn
how these solutes and
Reader 1:
Definitions of Solutes and Solutions
Solutions are compositions that have two or more substances that are equally distributed within the mixture. In one
sense, all solutions are a type of homogeneous mixture, in which the two or more substances are the same
throughout. For example, when sugar is mixed in water, it becomes impossible to physically see the sugar because
has completely dissolved into the water.
Regarding terminology, the sugar that was dissolving into the water is known as a solute. Anything is that being
dissolved is called a solute, while the solvent is the thing that dissolves the solute. In this case, the water would be
the solvent, and usually there is more solvent than the solute. Lastly, the system is what holds the solute and solvent
together. In the last example, the glass would be the system.
Now hypotonic, hypertonic, and isotonic solutions usually deal with cellular osmosis which diffuses over a selectively
permeable membrane. Osmosis is the movement of water and tends to diffuse by moving the water from areas of
higher concentrations to areas of lower concentrations. Lastly, a selectively permeable membrane can restrict what
comes in and out of the membrane. In terms of tonicity, the ratio of solutes and solvents determines hypotonic,
hypertonic, and isotonic solutions.
Isotonic Solution
The easiest solution to understand are isotonic solutions. In terms of cells placed in
water, they neither gain or lose water through osmosis because the concentration of solutes in the cell are equal to
the solutes outside of the selectively permeable membrane.
As a result, nothing happens because the concentration of water solutes outside of the cell are equal to the solutes
within the cell. In the same respect, the water concentration on both sides is also equivalent.
Isotonic solutions are commonly used in medical situations. For example, hospitals use isotonic saline solutions for
IVs for patients. If you clean contact lenses, you use an isotonic saline solution to clean the protein from your lenses.
Most cells in our bodies are isotonic.
Reader 2:
Hypertonic Solutions
Hypertonic solutions are different from isotonic solutions in that cells often lose water. Cells have a water
concentration that is greater
inside the cell rather than outside of the cell. Furthermore,
the solutes outside of the cell are greater than the solutes inside of the cell.
When osmosis uses diffusion, cells tend to lose water because the water travels from an area of high concentration
(inside of the cell) to an area of lower concentration (outside of the cell).
When this happens, cells can become dehydrated and die unless they are properly hydrated. The best example of a
hypertonic solution would be the oceans, because the solutes (salts) outside of the cells are greater than inside of the
cells.
For example, if you swim in an ocean, you can observe that your body tends to dry out due to the solvent (ocean)
having a greater amount of solutes than the inside of your body.
Hypotonic Solutions
Hypotonic solutions are the complete opposite of hypertonic solutions. Cells often have a
water concentration that is lower than outside of the cell. Following this, the solutes outside of the cell are less than
the solutes within the cell. As a result of diffusion, cells tend to gain water because the water travels from an area of
higher concentration (outside of the cell) to an area of lower concentration (inside of the cell).
When cells gain water, they risk rupturing unless they maintain this balance (through a selectively permeable
membrane).
Freshwater habitats are examples of hypotonic solutions because the freshwater has less solutes than inside of the
cells. For example, if you stay in the shower too long, you will notice that your skin can gain water and this is often
called pruning.
In conclusion, hypotonic, hypertonic, and isotonic solutions are a part of everyday life. Without these solutions, sea
animals, freshwater animals, and medical patients could not survive.
References
written by: Jarod Saucedo • edited by: Amanda Grove • updated: 1/5/2012
Sources:

Gregory, Michael J. "Membranes."
http://faculty.clintoncc.suny.edu/faculty/michael.gregory/files/bio%20101/bio%20101%20lectures/membranes/mem

brane.htm
Rader, Andrew. "Solutions and Mixtures." http://www.chem4kids.com/files/matter_solution.html
Images:
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Sascheme. "Isotonic." http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Isotonic.JPG
Sascheme. "Hypertonic." http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hypertonic.jpg
Sascheme. "Hypotonic." http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hypotonic.jpg