Multiple Choice
Isotonic is a term that describes what?
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9. Transport Across Membranes
Passive Transport: Diffusion and Osmosis
Multiple Choice
A red blood cell will undergo hemolysis when placed in which type of solution?
A
Isotonic solution
B
Hypertonic solution
C
A solution with the same osmolarity as the cytosol but higher temperature
D
Hypotonic solution
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of tonicity, which refers to the ability of a solution to cause water movement across a cell membrane by osmosis.
Recall that an isotonic solution has the same osmolarity as the cell's cytosol, so there is no net movement of water, and the cell remains stable.
Recognize that a hypertonic solution has a higher osmolarity than the cytosol, causing water to move out of the cell, leading to cell shrinkage (crenation), not hemolysis.
Identify that a hypotonic solution has a lower osmolarity than the cytosol, causing water to move into the cell, increasing internal pressure and potentially causing the red blood cell to burst (hemolysis).
Note that temperature changes alone, without changes in osmolarity, do not cause hemolysis, so a solution with the same osmolarity but higher temperature will not cause hemolysis.
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