Final answer:
A solution with 0.05% glucose is considered hypotonic in comparison to body fluids, leading to a net inflow of water into cells which can cause cellular swelling.
Step-by-step explanation:
A solution with 0.05% glucose is considered to be hypotonic when compared to typical body fluids. Typical isotonic solutions are 0.9% NaCl (sodium chloride) or 5% glucose solutions. A hypotonic solution has a lower solute concentration than that of the cell's cytoplasm, leading to a net flow of water into the cell. This can cause cellular swelling and potentially rupture, which is why intravenous (IV) solutions are typically isotonic to prevent damage to red blood cells. In contrast, a hypertonic solution has a higher solute concentration than the cytoplasm, causing cells to shrink as water exits the cell in an attempt to balance the solute concentrations.