Questions: Red blood cells will undergo hemolysis in which solution?
1.0 % NaCl
0.3 % NaCl
5% glucose
5 % NaCl
10% glucose
Transcript text: Red blood cells will undergo hemolysis in which solution?
$1.0 \% \mathrm{NaCl}$
$0.3 \% \mathrm{NaCl}$
5\% glucose
$5 \% \mathrm{NaCl}$
10\% glucose
Solution
The answer is the second one: \(0.3\% \mathrm{NaCl}\).
Explanation for each option:
\(1.0\% \mathrm{NaCl}\): This solution is approximately isotonic to red blood cells. Isotonic solutions have the same osmotic pressure as the cells, so there is no net movement of water into or out of the cells, preventing hemolysis.
\(0.3\% \mathrm{NaCl}\): This solution is hypotonic relative to red blood cells. In a hypotonic solution, water enters the cells, causing them to swell and potentially burst, leading to hemolysis.
5\% glucose: This solution is also approximately isotonic to red blood cells. Like the \(1.0\% \mathrm{NaCl}\) solution, it does not cause significant water movement into or out of the cells, thus preventing hemolysis.
\(5\% \mathrm{NaCl}\): This solution is hypertonic relative to red blood cells. In a hypertonic solution, water leaves the cells, causing them to shrink, which is the opposite of hemolysis.
10\% glucose: This solution is hypertonic relative to red blood cells. Similar to the \(5\% \mathrm{NaCl}\) solution, it causes water to leave the cells, leading to cell shrinkage rather than hemolysis.
In summary, red blood cells will undergo hemolysis in a hypotonic solution, such as \(0.3\% \mathrm{NaCl}\), where water enters the cells, causing them to swell and potentially burst.