In a hypertonic solution, a cell is likely to experience which of the following?

In a hypertonic solution, the concentration of solutes outside the cell is higher than that inside the cell. This environmental condition creates a gradient where water will move out of the cell to balance the solute concentrations. As a result, the loss of water from the cell causes it to shrink, or shrivel, leading to a condition known as crenation in animal cells or plasmolysis in plant cells.

This understanding is fundamental to the principles of osmosis, where water moves from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. In this case, since the external environment is hypertonic, water moves out of the cell, resulting in a decrease in cell volume.