Final answer:
In a hypotonic environment where the osmolarity outside the cell is lower than inside, water will flow into the cell due to osmosis, potentially causing the cell to swell.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the osmolarity outside the cell is significantly lower than 0.29 Osm, there is a hypotonic situation. In such a scenario, the extracellular fluid has a lower solute concentration compared to the fluid inside the cell. This imbalance causes water to move into the cell, due to the process of osmosis.
Osmosis is the passive movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of higher water concentration to an area of lower water concentration. Since the solute concentration is lower outside the cell (hypotonic), water will naturally flow into the cell to try and equalize the solute concentrations on both sides of the cell membrane.
Water flow into the cell may cause the cell to swell and potentially burst if the amount of water is excessive. This inflow of water into the cells is nature's way of balancing solute concentrations, demonstrating osmosis and its effects on cellular health. Therefore, in response to the student's question, water will flow (a) into the cell.