What happens when a bacterium is placed in a HYPOTONIC solution? What about HYPERTONIC? Solution Hypertonic solution is a solution which has a higher concentrate of solute and a solution with a low concentration of dissolved solute.When a bacterial cell placed in a hypertonic solution will shrink and die due to the water content in bacteria goes to outside having lower concentration of water.This process is called plasmolysis.At the other case,process by which a bacterial cell when placed in a hypotonic solution will swell and burst by absorbing high water concentration outside into bacterial cell is called plasmoptysis..