In a hypotonic environment, what is the net movement of water?

In a hypotonic environment, the concentration of solutes outside the cell is lower than that inside the cell. When this situation arises, the osmotic pressure gradient causes water to move into the cell. This movement occurs because water seeks to balance the concentration of solutes on both sides of the cell membrane.

As water enters the cell, it can cause the cell to swell, and if enough water enters, it might even lead to cell lysis, especially if the cell is unable to manage the increased internal pressure. This process is a fundamental concept in understanding osmosis, where water moves from regions of lower solute concentration (hypotonic) to higher solute concentration until equilibrium is reached.

In summary, in a hypotonic environment, the net movement of water is into the cell due to the concentration gradient of solutes.