What occurs to bacterial cells when they are placed in a hypertonic solution?

When bacterial cells are placed in a hypertonic solution, water moves out of the cells into the surrounding solution. This happens because the concentration of solutes outside the bacterial cells is higher than that inside the cells. As a result, the cells lose water, leading to a process called crenation, where the cells shrink and can even become dehydrated.

This response reflects the principles of osmosis, where water moves from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration in an attempt to equalize the solute concentrations on both sides of the cell membrane. The shrinking of the bacterial cells in a hypertonic environment can ultimately disrupt their metabolic functions and cellular integrity.