What characteristic does a hypotonic solution exhibit?

A hypotonic solution is defined as one that has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of a cell. When a cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, water flows into the cell by osmosis in an attempt to equalize the solute concentrations on both sides of the cell membrane. This influx of water causes the cell to swell and can eventually lead to cell lysis if the swelling continues.

In contrast, a hypertonic solution would lead to cell shrinkage due to water leaving the cell, and an isotonic solution would have equal solute concentrations, resulting in no net movement of water. The mention of toxicity is irrelevant in this context as it does not pertain to the osmotic effects of hypotonic solutions. Understanding these principles is essential in fields like biology and medicine, especially regarding the behavior of cells in different environments.