What will happen if a healthy red blood cell is placed into a container of pure water?
A)The cell will totally dissolve in the water.
B)The cell will remain unchanged.
C)The cell will become swollen.
D)The cell will shrink.
E)none of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is because pure water is hypotonic (has a lower concentration of solutes) compared to the cytoplasm of a red blood cell. Water will move from an area of higher concentration (the pure water) to an area of lower concentration (inside the red blood cell) resulting in the cell becoming swollen.

What Will Happen If a Healthy Red Blood Cell Is