* Osmosis: Water moves from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration across a semi-permeable membrane (like the cell membrane).
* Salt Water: Salt water has a higher concentration of salt (solute) compared to the inside of an animal cell. This means the water concentration inside the cell is higher.
* Water Movement: Because of the concentration difference, water will move out of the cell and into the salt water, trying to equalize the concentrations.
* Crenation: As water leaves the cell, it shrinks and can eventually shrivel up.
Think of it like this: Imagine a balloon filled with water. If you place it in a very salty solution, the water inside the balloon will want to move out to dilute the salt outside. The balloon will deflate and shrink.
Important Note: The severity of crenation depends on the salt concentration of the water and how long the animal cell is exposed to it.
