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.
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.