The situation described involves a cell with a semi-permeable membrane and a 15% sugar concentration being placed in a solution of 20% sugar. To determine the nature of the solution, we need to consider the concept of tonicity.
1. If the cell has a lower sugar concentration (15%) compared to the external solution (20%), water will move from an area of higher water concentration (outside the cell) to an area of lower water concentration (inside the cell).
2. The solution with a higher sugar concentration (20%) compared to the cell's sugar concentration (15%) is considered hypertonic. In a hypertonic solution, water tends to move out of the cell, leading to the cell shrinking or shriveling due to water loss.
Therefore, in this scenario, the solution is hypertonic. The higher sugar concentration in the external solution compared to the cell's sugar concentration causes water to move out of the cell, resulting in the cell shrinking.
