PLASMOLYSIS IN ELODEA CELLS. Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a membrane from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration. This movement of water may be harmful to cells. A hypertonic solution can result in the plasmolysis of a cell when the water in a. living cell osmoses out of the cell and the cell becomes dehydrated. Most cells live in an isotonic solution where the movement of. water is constant into and out of the cell (equilibrium).