A hypotonic environment refers to a solution with a lower solute concentration compared to the inside of a cell. In this type of environment, water molecules move into the cell, causing it to swell or potentially burst.
Related terms
Isotonic Environment: It refers to a solution where the solute concentration is equal both inside and outside the cell.
Hypertonic Environment: It describes a solution that has a higher solute concentration compared to the inside of a cell.
Osmosis: The process by which water molecules move across selectively permeable membranes from an area with low solute concentration to an area with high solute concentration.