tonicity Definition
- 1the state of a solution in terms of osmotic pressure
- 2the ability of a solution to cause a cell to gain or lose water
Using tonicity: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "tonicity" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The tonicity of the solution is important for the survival of the cells.
Example
Hypotonic solutions have a lower tonicity than the cells, causing them to swell and burst.
Example
Hypertonic solutions have a higher tonicity than the cells, causing them to shrink and shrivel.
Summary: tonicity in Brief
Tonicity [toh-nis-i-tee] refers to the state of a solution in terms of osmotic pressure and its ability to cause a cell to gain or lose water. The tonicity of a solution is crucial for the survival of cells, with hypotonic solutions having lower tonicity than cells, causing them to swell and burst, and hypertonic solutions having higher tonicity than cells, causing them to shrink and shrivel.
