A cell placed in a hypotonic solution will swell due to the movement of water into the cell. Alternatively, if a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, the cell will shrink due to the movement of water outside the cell through osmosis. The difference between a hypotonic solution and a hypertonic solution is tabulated below:
| Hypotonic solution | Hypertonic solution |
| The solution outside the cell has a higher soluble concentration than inside the cell. Thus, the water molecules move outside the cell from inside. | The solution outside the cell has a less concentrated solution than inside the cell. Thus, the water molecules move inside the cell from outside. |
| A solution whose concentration is less than the cell sap or inside of a cell. | A solution whose concentration is more than the cell sap or that inside a cell. |
| A plant cell becomes turgid when putting in a hypotonic solution. | A plant cell undergoes plasmolysis in a hypertonic solution. |
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