Based on the Tonicity in Elodea Cells lab, a hypotonic environment causes a cell to swell or burst because
-the water in the solution moves into the plant cell.
-the solutes in the solution have a lower concentration than the solute concentration inside the plant cell.
-the water is moving down its concentration gradient from high to low.
-The water moved across the selectively permeable membrane down its concentration gradient from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration. There were fewer solutes in the solution and more solutes in the cell, which is why the water moved into the cell.