Which statement best describes what would happen to a sample of red blood cells if they were placed in a hypotonic solution?

A. Nothing would happen, your cell is in homeostasis, so functions would continue as normal.

B. The cells would swell and possibly burst (lyse) because a build up of sugar and oxygen inside the cell would occur. More and more sugar and oxygen would be added to the cell until it pops.

C. The cells would swell and possibly burst (lyse) because there is more water than solutes in the hypotonic solution compared to the cell, so the water would move in to the cell to reach equilibrium.

D. The cells would shrivel up because there is more water than solutes in the cells, so the water would leave the cell to create equilibrium.

Question

Biology

Cali

25 October, 20:12

Which statement best describes what would happen to a sample of red blood cells if they were placed in a hypotonic solution?

A. Nothing would happen, your cell is in homeostasis, so functions would continue as normal.

B. The cells would swell and possibly burst (lyse) because a build up of sugar and oxygen inside the cell would occur. More and more sugar and oxygen would be added to the cell until it pops.

C. The cells would swell and possibly burst (lyse) because there is more water than solutes in the hypotonic solution compared to the cell, so the water would move in to the cell to reach equilibrium.

D. The cells would shrivel up because there is more water than solutes in the cells, so the water would leave the cell to create equilibrium.

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Answers (1)

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Bell · Answer 1

option c

Explanation:

if you place a red blood cell in a hypotonic solution it will burst. A hypotonic solution has a low solute concentration than the inside of the cells (solute concentration in the cell is high). Osmotic forces then cause water from a solution to enter the cells.