Question

14) Mammalian blood contains the equivalent of 0.15 M NaCl. Seawater contains the equivalent of 0.45 M NaCl. What will happen if red blood cells are transferred to seawater? A) NaCl will be exported from the red blood cells by facilitated diffusion. B) The blood cells will take up water, swell, and eventually burst. C) NaCl will passively diffuse into the red blood cells. D) Water will leave the cells, causing them to shrivel and collapse. E) The blood cells will expend ATP for active transport of NaCl into the cytoplasm. D;

Answer 1

Answer:

A) NaCl will be exported from the red blood cells by facilitated diffusion.

Answer 2

Answer:

D) Water will leave the cells, causing them to shrivel and collapse.

Explanation:

In the situation described in the question above, if the red blood cells were transferred to seawater, the water would come out of the cells by osmosis, causing those cells to shrivel and collapse. This would occur because the concentration of NaCl in seawater is greater than the concentration of NaCl within the cell, so in an attempt to balance the cell would spill the water from within it to balance NaCl concentrations. As a result, the cell would wither and collapse.