Final answer:
The solute concentration of the IV therapy infused liquid should be isotonic to blood to prevent complications such as hemolysis of red blood cells. (Option b)
Step-by-step explanation:
When a person receives IV therapy, the solute concentration of the infused liquid should be the same as blood for safety reasons, specifically to maintain the correct osmolarity. The concept at work here is tonicity, which pertains to the ability of a solution surrounding a cell to cause that cell to gain or lose water. An isotonic solution has a solite concentration equal to that of the cell, and so there is no net movement of water across the cell membrane, which is critical to prevent red blood cells from undergoing hemolysis.
Both regular intravenous solutions, like normal saline and lactated Ringer's solution, are isotonic for this very reason. Giving a hypertonic or hypotonic solution can cause cells to shrink (crenate) or swell and potentially burst (hemolyze), leading to serious complications.