Which type of solution has a higher osmolarity than the cell cytoplasm?

A solution with higher osmolarity than the cell cytoplasm is defined as hypertonic. This means that the hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes compared to the concentration of solutes within the cell. When cells are placed in a hypertonic solution, water moves out of the cell and into the surrounding solution in order to balance the solute concentrations across the cell membrane. This movement of water can lead to cell shrinkage or crenation as the cell loses water to the more concentrated solution.

In contrast, hypotonic solutions contain a lower concentration of solutes than the cell cytoplasm, which causes water to flow into the cell, potentially leading to swelling or bursting of the cell. Isotonic solutions have an equal concentration of solutes as the cell cytoplasm, leading to no net movement of water and maintaining cell shape and function. The term “isosmotic solutes” is not applicable in this context since it does not describe a solution type but rather the equivalent osmotic concentrations.