... concentrations inside and outside are not even. This is because the cell wall becomes stretched and prevents any more water entering. The cell is said to be turgid. Cells placed in a concentrated sugar solution lose water by osmosis, as the water potential is higher inside the cell. As there are more water molecules inside the cell, more water molecules leave the cell than enter it. The net movement of the water molecules is out of the cell. This causes the cell to become flaccid, and for it to decrease in mass. When a cell is placed in a concentration of sugar solution that has the same water potential as the cell sap, an equal amount of water molecules go in and out of the cell. There is no net movement of water molecules and the mass of the cell will stay the same. This is called the state of equilibrium. For ...

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