What will happen to a red blood cell (RBC), which has an internal ion content of about 0.9%, if it is placed into a beaker of pure water?
A) The cell would shrink because the water in the beaker is hypotonic relative to the cytoplasm of the RBC.
B) The cell would shrink because the water in the beaker is hypertonic relative to the cytoplasm of the RBC.
C) The cell would swell because the water in the beaker is hypotonic relative to the cytoplasm of the RBC.
D) The cell will remain the same size because the solution outside the cell is isotonic.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a red blood cell with an internal ion content of about 0.9% is placed into a beaker of pure water, the water in the beaker is hypotonic relative to the cytoplasm of the RBC. This means that water will move into the cell, causing it to swell or burst. Therefore, the best choice is C - the cell would swell because the water in the beaker is hypotonic relative to the cytoplasm of the RBC.

What Will Happen to a Red Blood Cell (RBC), Which