Question

15. Suppose a human blood cell containing a 0.9 percent solute concentration were put into a container of 30 percent solute solution. Would the blood cell get bigger or smaller? Why? In your explanation, you must tell me which area has the hypotonic solution (inside the blood cell or outside the blood cell), which area has the hypertonic solution (inside the blood cell or outside the blood cell), and which direction the water would be moving (into the cell or out of the cell).

Answer 1

Answer:

Smaller

Explanation:

The human blood cell has a smaller percentage of solute concentration than the solution it was placed into. This means that the cell is hypotonic in comparison to the solution, and the solution is hypertonic compared to the cell. When a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution it undergoes crenation, meaning it shrivels up. Water moves from the lower solute concentration to the higher solute concentration. The water inside the cell moves outside to the hypertonic solution. This causes the cell to become smaller.