Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A hypertonic solution is one that has a higher concentration of solutes outside the cell than inside the cell. This causes water to move out of the cell, leading to shrinkage or crenation.
Related terms
Crenation: The shrinking of cells when they are exposed to a hypertonic solution.
Solvent: A substance, typically liquid, that dissolves another substance (solute) to form a solution.
Solute: The substance that gets dissolved in a solvent to form a solution.