What effect would a hypotonic solution have on a cell placed in it?

When a cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, the concentration of solutes outside the cell is lower than that inside the cell. This difference in solute concentration leads to water moving into the cell by osmosis, as water naturally flows from areas of lower solute concentration to areas of higher concentration in an attempt to equalize the concentration on both sides of the cell membrane.

As a result, the influx of water causes the cell to swell. If too much water enters, the pressure can build up within the cell, potentially leading to bursting, or lysis. This phenomenon is especially relevant in cells without strong cell walls, such as red blood cells; when placed in a hypotonic solution, they can swell and eventually burst due to the excess internal pressure caused by water intake. Thus, the correct understanding of the effect of a hypotonic solution reveals that the cell swells and may burst if the situation is extreme.