Here's the breakdown:
* Hypertonic: A hypertonic solution has a higher solute concentration compared to another solution (like a cell).
* Hypotonic: A hypotonic solution has a lower solute concentration compared to another solution.
* Isotonic: An isotonic solution has the same solute concentration as another solution.
Think of it this way:
* Hyper means "above" or "more." So, a hypertonic solution has "more" solute.
* Hypo means "below" or "less." So, a hypotonic solution has "less" solute.
Example: If you place a cell in a hypertonic solution, water will move out of the cell, causing it to shrink. This is because the solution has a higher concentration of solutes, so the cell tries to balance the concentration by losing water.
