Animal cells placed in a hypotonic solution are likely to...

When animal cells are placed in a hypotonic solution, the concentration of solutes outside the cell is lower than that inside the cell. This creates a concentration gradient that drives water to move into the cell through osmosis. As water flows into the cell, it causes the cell to swell. If too much water accumulates, the internal pressure increases, potentially leading to the cell bursting, a process known as cytolysis.

This response is a fundamental aspect of cellular function and osmoregulation. Animal cells do not have a rigid cell wall like plant cells, which means they lack the structural support to withstand excessive internal pressure. Consequently, they are more susceptible to changes in their external environment, particularly regarding water movement.

In contrast, plasmolysis, which refers to the contraction of the cell membrane away from the cell wall due to loss of water, occurs in plant cells in hypertonic solutions, not hypotonic ones. Cells that remain unchanged would indicate an isotonic solution, where the solute concentrations are equal, and there would be no net movement of water. Lastly, losing water and shrinking would occur in hypertonic solutions, where the cell is surrounded by a concentration of solute that is higher than inside, leading to water