What term describes a solution that has a lower concentration than the cell cytoplasm, resulting in water moving into the cell?

A solution that has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the concentration inside the cell is termed hypotonic. In a hypotonic environment, the solute concentration outside the cell is less than that inside the cell, leading to a net movement of water into the cell through osmosis. This influx of water causes the cell to swell, and in some cases, it may even lead to lysis if the swelling is excessive and the cell cannot withstand the pressure.

In contrast, an isotonic solution has equal solute concentrations inside and outside the cell, which means there is no net movement of water. A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes compared to the cell cytoplasm, which causes water to move out of the cell, potentially resulting in cell shrinkage. The term equilibrium refers to a state where there is no net movement of particles, which does not specifically describe the behavior of water in the context of solute concentrations. Therefore, the correct term for describing a solution that leads to water entering the cell is hypotonic.