(a) A cell having higher water content than the surrounding medium, meaning that the surrounding solution is very concentrated solution (hypertonic solution), the cell will lose water by exosmosis. Such a solution is known as hypertonic solution.
*Hypertonic solutions: In hypertonic solutions, the concentrations of dissolved solutes are greater outside the cell resulting in the low concentration of water outside. Thus, to maintain an equilibrium, the water will flow from inside to the outside, causing the cell to shrink.

(b) A cell having low water concentration than the surrounding medium, meaning that the surrounding solution is very dilute (hypotonic solution), the cell will gain water by endosmosis. Such a solution is known as hypotonic solution.

(c) A cell having equal water concentration to its surrounding medium, the cell will neither gain nor lose water to the external medium. Such a solution is known as isotonic solution.