Expert: Paras Anand - 11/28/2008

Question
i don't know what would happen if a semi-permeable bag containing a high concentration of a protein solution was placed in a beaker of water
and also what happens to an animal cell that is placed in a hypotonic environment?

Thanks for your time

Answer
Dear Travis,
Since the solution inside the bag is hypertonic, the water will move inside the semi-permeable bag. Similarly, an animal cell has a semi-permeable membrane and when such a cell is placed in an hypotonic environment, the cell will swell up.
Best!!