AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Solutions that contain the same concentration of water and solutes as the cell cytoplasm are called isotonic solutions. Cells placed in an isotonic solution will neither shrink nor swell since there is no net gain or loss of water.

Detailed explanation-2: -A cell in an isotonic solution is in equilibrium with its surroundings, meaning the solute concentrations inside and outside are the same (iso means equal in Latin). In this state there is no concentration gradient and therefore, no large movement of water in or out.

Detailed explanation-3: -Cells isotonic to their surrounding solutions have an equal concentration of solutes in and out of the cell membrane. This creates a dynamic equilibrium that maintains the status of the cell.

Detailed explanation-4: -The only difference between an isotonic solution and an equilibrium is that an isotonic solution means that all the contents in the solution are balanced equally but there are movements while in an equilibrium, all the contents in the solution are also balanced equally but no movements are made.

Detailed explanation-5: -The rate of intake and output are the same in an isotonic environment, which has the same solute concentration as the inside of the cell. The cell relies on this dynamic equilibrium to continue to cycle cell nutrients and oxygen inside and outside of the cell.