Final answer:
A red blood cell will experience crenation in a hypertonic solution, no change in an isotonic solution, and hemolysis in a hypotonic solution. A hypotonic environment poses a risk of cell swelling and bursting, while an isotonic environment maintains normal cell function.
Step-by-step explanation:
A red blood cell will undergo different changes based on the tonicity of the solution it is placed in. When a red blood cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, it will undergo crenation, which means it will shrink as water leaves the cell. This is because the concentration of solutes is higher outside the cell than inside, leading to water moving out of the cell to balance the solute concentrations.
If a red blood cell is in an isotonic solution, it will experience no change in volume or shape because the solute concentrations inside and outside the cell are equal, resulting in no net movement of water across the cell membrane.
In a hypotonic solution, a red blood cell will swell and potentially undergo hemolysis, which is bursting of the cell due to excessive water inflow. Since the solute concentration inside the cell is higher than outside, water moves into the cell aiming to dilute the internal concentration, often leading to the cell's rupture.
For example, a saltwater fish placed in freshwater would be exposed to a hypotonic environment, which could lead to an influx of water into its cells, similar to hemolysis in red blood cells. Clinicians must carefully match the osmolarity of intravenous drugs with blood to prevent hemolysis of red blood cells.