Red blood cells are placed in a hypotonic solution.

As a result, the red blood cells change, as seen here in the illustration.

1. Describe the movement of water across the cell membrane. Be sure to indicate the direction the water moves.

2. Explain why the water moves in the direction you have chosen.

3. Describe the change in the red blood cells, using correct terminology.

How would this differ if the red blood cells had been placed in an isotonic solution?

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Biology

8 September, 21:39

Red blood cells are placed in a hypotonic solution.

As a result, the red blood cells change, as seen here in the illustration.

1. Describe the movement of water across the cell membrane. Be sure to indicate the direction the water moves.

2. Explain why the water moves in the direction you have chosen.

3. Describe the change in the red blood cells, using correct terminology.

How would this differ if the red blood cells had been placed in an isotonic solution?

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Answers (1)

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Immanuel Acosta · Answer 1

If Red blood cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, the water moves into the cell. The cell swells and become turgid.

Explanation:

This is a type of osmosis. here plasma membrane of RBC works as semipermeable (only solute can move) osmotic membrane.

We all know that, osmosis is a process where liquid moves across semipermeable membrane from less concentration gradient to high concentration gradient.

There are three types of solution in respect of the concentration of cell's cytoplasm. These are

Hypotionic (when the solution is dilute than the conc. of cytoplasm). In this condition water moves into the cell and the cell become turgid. this is known as deplasmolysis Hypertonic (when the solution is concentrated than cytoplasm), In this condition water moves out from the cell and the cell become flaccid. This is known as plasmolysis. Isotonic (when both the conc. of cell and solution are same). No osmosis takes place.