effect on animal cells

• solution with a higher water potential then the cell (HYPOTONIC)

  • Net movement of water molecules is into the cell. the cell bursts
• solution with the same water potential as the cell (isotonic)

  • water molecules pass into and out the cell in equal amounts
  • cell stays the same
• solution with lower water potential than the cell (hypertonic)

  • net movement of water molecules is out of the cell
  • the cell shrinks