Question

the red blood cells shown below were placed in a solution which caused them to swell and rupture. which type of solution were they placed in?
image of swollen and ruptured red blood cells
swollen and ruptured red blood cells.
options: isotonic, hypertonic, hypotonic

Explanation:

1. Recall the concepts of tonicity:

• Isotonic solution: Concentration of solutes is equal inside and outside the cell, so no net movement of water, cell remains normal.
• Hypertonic solution: Higher solute concentration outside the cell, water moves out, cell shrinks.
• Hypotonic solution: Lower solute concentration outside the cell (higher water concentration outside), water moves into the cell, causing it to swell and potentially rupture (hemolysis for red blood cells).

1. The red blood cells swelled and ruptured, which matches the effect of a hypotonic solution (water enters the cell due to osmosis, increasing cell volume until it bursts).

Answer:

C. hypotonic