Final answer:
Hemolysis occurs when a red blood cell is placed into a hypotonic solution (option E), causing water to enter the cell and potentially leading to the cell's rupture.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hemolysis may occur when a blood cell is placed into a hypotonic solution. In such a solution, the concentration of solutes outside the cell is lower than that inside the cell, leading to water rushing into the cell due to osmosis. As a result, the red blood cell can become swollen and may burst, given that the cell membrane of the red blood cell is permeable to water. This outcome contrasts with what occurs in isotonic and hypertonic solutions, where the red blood cell retains its normal shape and shrinks, respectively.
In a hypotonic environment, the solvent goes through the cell membrane to dilute the solutes inside the cell, potentially causing the cell to rupture, which is an undesirable effect. Therefore, IV solutions must be isotonic with blood serum to avoid such deleterious effects. Notable also is that hypertonic solutions cause water to leave the red blood cell, leading it to collapse.