In which type of solution is a cell's water concentration greater than that of its surrounding environment?

In a hypotonic solution, the concentration of water inside the cell is greater than that in the surrounding environment. This means that there are fewer solutes outside the cell compared to the inside. As a result, water moves into the cell to balance the solute concentrations on both sides of the cell membrane. This influx of water can lead to cell swelling, and in some cases, it may even cause the cell to burst if the difference in concentration is significant enough.

In contrast, a hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell, causing water to move out of the cell, which can lead to cell shrinkage. An isotonic solution has equal concentrations of solutes and water inside and outside the cell, resulting in no net movement of water. The term "concentrated" does not specifically refer to a solution type in terms of water concentration compared to the cell and is not relevant in this context.