If cells are placed in a isotonic solution containing a solute to which the membrane is impermeable what could happen?

Answer 1

If the solution is hypotonic, that means that the concentration is less than that in the cell. Interestingly, despite the impermeability of the solute, the water still rushes into the cell to try and correct the imbalance, which causes the cell to swell and eventually burst.

Answer 2

An isotonic solution has the same concentration of a solute than the compared solution, in this case the cell plasma. As such, even if the solute was permeable to the membrane, osmosis wouldn't occur, because an equilibrium is already in place.

Answer 3

Because their is a greater concentration of solute outside the cell, water would diffuse, a process called osmosis, from inside the cell to the hypertonic solution. The net flux of water would continue in the direction mentioned above until the concentration of solute inside and outside the cell are the same, hence equilibrium is reached. This does not mean that their isn't flux of water across the membrane, but that the inward-flux balances the outward-flux.

Answer 4

In an isotonic solution, there will be no net movement of water in or out of the cell, as the concentration of solutes inside the cell is the same as outside. Since the solute is impermeable to the membrane, there will be no transport of the solute across the membrane. The cell will remain in a stable state without any swelling or shrinking.