In what type of solution do cells tend to swell and potentially burst?

Cells tend to swell and potentially burst in a hypotonic solution. A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell. When cells are placed in such a solution, water moves into the cells through osmosis, aiming to balance the solute concentrations inside and outside of the cell. This influx of water can cause the cell to swell as it fills with water, and if it continues, the pressure can build up to a point where the cell membrane cannot withstand the stress, ultimately leading to cell lysis, or bursting.

In contrast, an isotonic solution has an equal concentration of solutes inside and outside the cell, resulting in no net movement of water and maintaining the cell's normal shape. A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes outside the cell, causing water to flow out of the cell, leading to crenation, or shrinkage, of the cell. A neutral solution typically refers to a solution that has a balanced pH; it does not refer specifically to osmotic effects on cells. Therefore, the specific nature of hypotonic solutions directly describes the condition that leads to cell swelling and bursting.