* Hypertonic Environment: The concentrated sugar solution creates a hypertonic environment outside the cell. This means the concentration of solutes (sugar molecules) is higher outside the cell than inside.
* Water Movement: Water naturally moves from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration to try and equalize the solute concentration.
* Cell Shrinking: As water moves out of the cell to try and dilute the sugar solution outside, the cell will shrink. This process is called crenation.
Consequences of Crenation:
* Cell Dehydration: The cell loses water and can become dehydrated.
* Loss of Function: The cell's internal environment becomes disrupted, impacting its ability to function properly.
* Potential Damage: In severe cases, the cell can be damaged and even die due to excessive water loss.
Note: This is different from what happens to plant cells in a concentrated sugar solution. Plant cells have a rigid cell wall that prevents them from shrinking significantly. Instead, they undergo plasmolysis, where the cell membrane pulls away from the cell wall.
