If blood cells are placed in a hypertonic solution
A) the cells will shrink due to water loss by the cell.
B) the cells will be unaffected since they have a cell membrane to separate them from the solution.
C) the cells will swell due to diffusion.
D) the cells will burst due to active transport.
E) the cells will shrink due to the loss of solutes from the blood cell.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a hypertonic solution, there is a higher concentration of solutes outside the cell compared to inside the cell. As a result, water molecules will move out of the cell through osmosis, leading to shrinkage of the cell. Therefore, blood cells placed in a hypertonic solution will shrink due to water loss by the cell.

If Blood Cells Are Placed in a Hypertonic Solution