What happens to human red blood cells when placed in a severely hypotonic solution (such as distilled water)?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Endosmosis causes the cells to swell and burst
- Step 1: Distilled water has an osmolarity of zero, much lower than erythrocyte cytoplasm (~300 mOsm/L). Step 2. Water rushes into the erythrocytes by endosmosis down the osmotic gradient until membrane tension ruptures the cell (hemolysis). Answer: Endosmosis causes the cells to swell and burst (hemolysis). Why not the others: Exosmosis and crenation occur in hypertonic solutions; animal cells lack cell walls; mature red blood cells cannot divide.
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