define hypotonic solution
Answers
A hypotonic solution is any solution that has a lower osmotic pressure than another solution. In the biological fields, this generally refers to a solution that has less solute and more water than another solution.
Examples:
A common example of a hypotonic solution is 0.45% normal saline (half normal saline). When a patient develops diabetic ketoacidosis, the intracellular space becomes dehydrated, so the administration of a hypotonic solution helps to rehydrate the cells.
Glucose is the sugar present in an individual's blood. An example of a hypertonic solution that has glucose dissolved into it is any plain glucose solution with a concentration higher than 5%. One such example is a solution of 10% dextrose in water, also known by its name D10W. This is often used as an IV fluid.
Answer:
A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes than another solution. In biology, a solution outside of a cell is called hypotonic if it has a lower concentration of solutes relative to the cytosol. Due to osmotic pressure, water diffuses into the cell, and the cell often appears turgid, or bloated.