Multiple Choice
In the context of passive transport and membrane permeability, what does a reverse osmosis device primarily remove from water?
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9. Transport Across Membranes
Passive Transport: Diffusion and Osmosis
Multiple Choice
In the context of passive transport (diffusion and osmosis), a red blood cell placed in pure water would most likely do what?
A
Swell and potentially lyse (hemolyze) as water enters the cell by osmosis
B
Shrink (crenate) as water leaves the cell by osmosis
C
Actively pump water out to maintain its normal volume
D
Remain unchanged because pure water is isotonic to the cytosol
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the concept of osmosis, which is the passive movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.
Step 2: Identify the solute concentration inside the red blood cell (cytosol) and compare it to the solute concentration of the surrounding pure water, which has essentially zero solute concentration.
Step 3: Recognize that because the cytosol has a higher solute concentration than pure water, water will move into the cell by osmosis to balance the concentration difference.
Step 4: Predict the effect of water entering the cell: the red blood cell will swell as it gains water, increasing internal pressure.
Step 5: Understand that if too much water enters, the red blood cell membrane may rupture, a process called hemolysis, because red blood cells cannot actively pump water out to maintain volume.
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