An isotonic solution is when the solute concentration is balanced with the concentration inside the cell , the water movement still moves between the solution, but the rates are the same in both directions, the water is balanced inside and outside the cell .
A hypotonic solution is when the solute concentration is lower than the concentration inside the cell. water moves into the cell and can cause the cell to swell; cells that don’t have a cell wall, such as animal cells, could explode in this type of solution.
A hypertonic solution is when the solute concentration is higher than the concentration inside the cell. In a hypertonic solution, the water moves out of the cell and causes the cell to shrivel.