A red blood cell placed in distilled water would be expected to
A) swell and lyse.
B) shrink and lyse.
C) swell and crenate.
D) shrink and crenate.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a red blood cell is placed in distilled water, water will move into the cell by osmosis since the concentration of solutes is higher inside the cell than outside. As a result, the cell will swell and eventually burst or lyse because the cell membrane cannot withstand the excessive influx of water. This process is called hemolysis. Therefore, the best choice is A) swell and lyse.

A Red Blood Cell Placed in Distilled Water Would Be