Water potential is the measure of the relative tendency of water to move from one area to another,

and is commonly represented by the Greek letter Ψ (Psi). Water potential can be represented by the
equation Ѱ = Ѱp + Ѱs where Ѱp is pressure potential (the amount by which pressure increases the
water potential ) and Ѱs is solute potential (the amount by which the dissolved solute lowers the
water potential) . Water moves by osmosis from a region of high Water Potential to a region of low
water potential through a partially permeable membrane. Osmosis can therefore be defined as the
movement of water from a region of high water potential to a region of low water potential through
a partially permeable membrane. In this way osmosis maintains systematic equilibrium between two
bodies.

A hypotonic solution is a solution with a higher water potential than another due to its lower
concentration of solute. A cell described in this way will lose water to its surround environment by
osmosis and the cell is said to be flaccid. If continued the membrane of this cell will pull away from
its cell wall and the cell may become plasmolysed. The cell mounted in solution B ,as seen in the
drawing of an onion cell in solution B, has its cell membrane significantly pulled away from the cell
wall under the light microscope indicating the cell was plasmolysed. This implies that the water
potential of solution B is lower than the water potential of the cell sap. It can therefore be deduced
that solution B is a hypotonic solution as it pertains to this cell. The cell mounted in solution A ,as
seen in the drawing of an onion cell in solution A, has its cell membrane slightly pulled away from
the cell wall in a region typical of the type of cell, under the light microscope indicating the cell was
most likely in its normal state. It can therefore be deduced that solution A is a hypotonic solution as
it pertains to this cell.

A hypertonic solution is a solution with a lower water potential than another due to its higher
concentration of solute. A cell described in this way will absorb water by osmosis. The membrane of
this cell will expand to accommodate for an increase in the amount of distilled water present within
the cell this may continue and the cell may burst in the absence of a cell wall. The onion cell has a
cell wall and so the force exerted by the membrane on the cell wall is resisted by the cell wall itself
and the cell is now said to be turgid. The cell mounted in distilled water ,as seen in the drawing of an
onion cell in distilled water, has its cell membrane indistinguishable from the cell wall under the light
microscope indicating the cell was turgid. This implies that the water potential of distilled water is
higher than the water potential of the cell sap. It can therefore be deduced that water is a
hypertonic solution as it pertains to this cell.

An isotonic solution refers to two solutions having the same water potential. This state allows for
the free movement of water across the membrane without changing the concentration of solutes on
either side and so the cell can be described as being in dynamic equilibrium with its surroundings.
The cell membrane is unchanged.

This changes in the cell membrane is reversible as seen in the drawing of a cell in solution A and B
after a few drops of distilled water is added. The cell membrane gradually returns to its position next
to the cell wall. These changes with distilled water can be accounted for by the presence of a water
gradient being set up between the high water potential (distilled water) and low water
potential(inside the cell) and by osmosis, water enters the cell causing an expansion of the cell
membrane. Distilled water is water that has had many of its impurities removed through distillation.
Distilled water was used in order to ensure that the water used had a lower water potential than the
cell I.e. there is less solute in the water than in the cell and so water will flow from the water to the
cell. If normal water was to be used the impurity(solute content) may affect this mechanism.