Question

Predict what would happen to the volume of red blood cells if they were placed in a 1400 mOSM solution of NaCl. Predict what would happen to the volume of RBCs if they were placed in a solution containing 700 mOSM of NaCl plus 700 mOSM of urea. Explain your thought processes. If you predict the volume would change, can you determine by how much it would change?

Answer 1

Answer:

If red blood cells are placed in a hypertonic solution, they will shrink because the water moves out of the cell through osmosis. When red blood cells are places in hypotonic solution they swell and rupture because the water moved in the cell through osmosis.

Explanation:

If red blood cells are placed in 1400mOsm of NaCl, the cell volume will be lost because the wayer in the cell moves out due to higher concentration of salt outside, they will shrink.

Similarly if the red blood cells are places in urea and NaCl the cell will again shrink.