What will happen if an animal or a plant cell is put into a solution of sugar or salt prepared in water?

Suppose we place an animal or a plant cell in a solution of sugar or salt in water. If the medium is hypotonic — a dilute solution, with a higher water concentration than the cell — the cell will gain water through osmosis. If the medium is isotonic — a solution with exactly the same water concentration as the cell — there will be no net movement of water across the cell membrane. If the medium is hypertonic — a concentrated solution, with a lower water concentration than the cell — the cell will lose water by osmosis.

Two terms to know: 1. Solute--chemical being dissolved (salt/sugar) 2. Solvent--solutiion the solute is being dissolved in (water) So water goes to where the solute concentration is higher. If you put a plant cell in a solution that is hypotonic (more solutes in the cell than outside) then the water will rush into the cell. If the plant cell is put in a solution that is salty or sugary (more solutes outside than inside the cell) then water will rush out of the cell. That is why food preservation involves sticking the food in sugar or salt, it removes the water out of the food...increasing shell life. The only thing to also consider are the exteriors of a plant versus animal cell. Remember plant cells have a sturdy cell wall while animal cells do not. How do you think that effects water coming in or out of the cells?