Question

I need help understanding the difference between hypertonic and hypotonic. How do you use those terms correctly?

Answer 1

hypertonic: •Greater concentration of solute outside of cell than inside
•Water potential is higher; osmotic potential is lower
•Net movement of water from the cell to the solution across a semi-permeable membrane
•In excess, causes crenation in animal cells and plasmolysis in plant cells

hypotonic:
•Greater concentration of solute inside cell than outside
•Water potential is low (0 in distilled water); osmotic potential is higher
•Net movement of water into the cell from the solution across a semi-permeable membrane
•A pure water solution (DH2O) can cause lysis (bursting) in animal cells and turgor pressure in plant cells


Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_do_hypertonic_and_hypotonic_and_isotonic_mean#ixzz1Q7XTrd2z

Answer 2

FIRST OF ALL these term are relative because any solution can be hypotonic in refrence to one solution and can be hypertonic for other e.g. let there r three solution A, B AND C.solution A IS 5 molar concentration B is 3molar and C IS 6 molar .then B is hypotonic to both A and C. but A is hypertonic to B but hypotonic to C. and C is hypertonic to both A and B.