Which of the following is a characteristic of a hypertonic solution?

A hypertonic solution is characterized by having a higher solute concentration outside the cell compared to the interior of the cell. When a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, water will move out of the cell in an attempt to balance the solute concentrations on both sides of the cell membrane. This movement of water can lead to the cell shriveling or shrinking as it loses water.

In contrast, a lower solute concentration outside the cell indicates a hypotonic solution, where water would flow into the cell, potentially causing it to swell and even burst. An equal solute concentration inside and outside the cell represents an isotonic solution, where there is no net movement of water. Increased cell size suggests that the cell has taken in water, which is not a characteristic of a hypertonic environment. Therefore, the correct understanding of a hypertonic solution revolves around its higher solute concentration outside the cell, driving the osmotic movement of water out of the cell.