Question

Which solution is hypertonic in the context of the picture showing a red blood cell and the concentrations of salt inside the cell and in the beaker?

A. The 0.1 M Salt solution inside the red blood cell.
B. The 0.5 M Salt solution inside the red blood cell.
C. The solution in the beaker is hypertonic.
D. There is not enough information to determine which solution is hypertonic.

Answer 1

A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes outside the cell than inside, leading to water leaving the cell and causing the cell to shrink. Without additional information or the image referenced, we cannot determine if option A or B is correct, but the solution in the beaker is hypertonic if its concentration is higher than that inside the cells.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks which solution is hypertonic in the context of a picture showing a red blood cell and the concentrations of salt inside and outside the cell. A hypertonic solution is one where the concentration of solutes outside the cell is greater than inside the cell. When a red blood cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, the net flow of water will be out of the cell, causing the cell to shrink or crenate. Without the picture, it's impossible to provide a definitive answer for options A or B. However, if the concentration of the salt solution in the surrounding beaker is higher than the concentration within the red blood cells, then the solution in the beaker would be considered hypertonic. Typically, an isotonic solution for red blood cells with sodium chloride (NaCl) is 0.9% m/v, which is approximately 0.16 M, and anything higher than this would be hypertonic.