Question

All of the following statements are false about red blood cells that have been added to a flask of saturated NaCl solution, except that

• A. The cells will undergo mitosis.
• B. The cells will increase in volume.
• C. The cell will lose water.
• D. The cells are hypertonic relative to the surrounding medium.
• E. The concentration of NaCl is lower outside the cells than inside.

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

The cell will lose water.

If the red blood cells are placed in a solution with a higher solute concentration, such as saturated NaCl solution, water moves out of the red blood cell by osmosis as water moves from higher concentration region to lower concentration region and in NaCl solution has less concentration water as compared to the cell, the cell becomes smaller. Thus, the correct answer is option C.