Question

a 0.9% nacl solution is isotonic to red blood cells. what would happen to the size of a red blood cell if it was placed in a 0.5% nacl solution?

Answer 1

Red blood cells placed in a hypotonic solution, such as 0.5% NaCl, will swell due to water influx by osmosis, which can lead to the cells bursting or undergoing hemolysis.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a 0.5% NaCl solution is less concentrated than the typical isotonic 0.9% NaCl solution, then it is considered to be a hypotonic solution for red blood cells (RBCs). Placing red blood cells in a hypotonic solution will lead to water entering the cells through osmosis because the concentration of solutes outside the cells is lower than inside. According to osmotic principles, water moves from areas of lower solute concentration to areas of higher solute concentration. As a result, the red blood cells will swell and can potentially burst, a phenomenon known as hemolysis.