If a red blood cell is placed in distilled water it will
A) swell and possibly burst because of the lower concentration of solutes outside the cell.
B) swell and possibly burst because of the ions diffusing out of the cell.
C) swell and possibly burst because of the greater concentration of solutes outside the cell.
D) shrink because of the lower concentration of solutes outside the cell.
E) shrink because of the greater concentration of solutes outside the cell.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a red blood cell is placed in distilled water, the water's solute concentration is lower than that inside the cell, leading to water moving into the cell via osmosis. This can cause the cell to swell and potentially burst, a process known as hemolysis.

If a Red Blood Cell Is Placed in Distilled Water