A red blood cell (cytoplasm ~0.9% NaCl) is placed in three solutions: distilled water, 0.9% saline, and 5% saline. Microscopy is used to record cell shapes after 5 minutes. The cells in distilled water rupture; cells in saline keep shape; cells in 5% saline crenate.
Pure distilled water is BEST classified as which environment for the red blood cell?
- A
Acidic - protons enter and damage the cell
- B
Isotonic - no net water movement
- C
Hypertonic - water leaves, shrinking the cell
- Dcheck_circle
Hypotonic - water flows in, swelling and lysing the cell
Explanation
Distilled water has nearly zero solute compared to the cytoplasm, so water enters the cell osmotically until the membrane bursts.