[Encyclios]

Hypotonic, isotonic and hypertonic solutions

Taking two solutions with different molar concentration (different number of particles dissolved in them), we define:

• hypotonic solution the solution with lower molar concentration (in other words it is the solution that has a lower osmotic pressure than another solution to which it is compared, and consequently the solvent will tend to diffuse towards the hypertonic solution with higher concentration);
• hypertonic solution the solution with a higher molar concentration (in other words it is the solution that has a higher osmotic pressure than another solution to which it is compared, and consequently the solvent will tend to diffuse towards the hypotonic solution with lower concentration);
• isotonic solution when two solutions have the same molar concentration of solute (they are also called equimolar); in other words the two solutions have the same osmotic pressure value.