What would happen to a cell placed in a hypertonic solution?

When a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, the concentration of solutes outside the cell is greater than that inside the cell. Water moves across the cell membrane from an area of lower solute concentration (inside the cell) to an area of higher solute concentration (outside the cell) in an attempt to balance the solute concentrations on both sides of the membrane.

As water exits the cell, it loses volume, leading to a decrease in cell size. This process is known as crenation in red blood cells, where the cells can appear shrunken and spiky. The movement of water out of the cell continues until the concentrations of solute reach equilibrium or until the cell becomes so shriveled that it cannot maintain its structural integrity. Therefore, in a hypertonic solution, the primary outcome for the cell is shrinkage, effectively supporting the answer that the cell would shrink.