A real-life example of hypertonic osmosis is what happens to plant cells placed in saltwater.
Hypertonic Osmosis Explained
When a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, it means the solution outside the cell has a higher concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell. Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration. Therefore, in a hypertonic environment, water moves out of the cell and into the surrounding solution.
Plant Cells in Saltwater (Saline)
Consider a plant cell placed in saline (saltwater). According to the provided reference, the saltwater has a much higher concentration of solute (salt) than the plant cell. This causes water to leave the plant cell and move into the saline solution through osmosis. The saline is therefore considered a hypertonic solution in relation to the plant cell.
Result
This water loss causes the plant cell to shrivel up (plasmolysis), which can be detrimental to the plant's health and survival.
