Question

GIVEN: The following are the atomic masses of particular elements: Na = 23 Cl = 35 Mg = 24

Assuming the membrane is relatively impermeable to the following substances, what will happen to RBCs placed in these solutions? (HINT: need to think in terms of osmolarity!):

            a) 0.2 M MgCl2   (Answer: it shrinks or crenates)

            b) 0.2% NaCl (Answer: it swells and perhaps lyses)

Please explain how to get the answers provided. Thanks!

Answer 1

If red blood cell placed in a hypotonic solution, will bulge and may explode, while in a hypertonic solution, it will shrnk by making the cytoplasm dense and its contents concentrated and cell may die.

As RBCs do not have any specialized membrane to prevent the flow of solution it'll results in creek death when placed in different tonicity of solutions.

A. When placed in 0.2M MgCl2 that is hypertonic solution,  cell shrinks or crenates due to the flow of solvents from cell to surrounding solution to attain equilibrium

B. 0.2% NaCl that is hypotonic solution results in movement of solvent from the surrounding solution to RBCs and  results in bulging of cells and lysis of cell