Question

1. this diagram shows a red blood cell in a beaker that contains a solution with a higher salt concentration than that inside the red blood cell. predict what will happen to the red blood cell in this environment. a. the size of the red blood cell will remain constant. b. the red blood cell will swell at first and then shrink. c. the red blood cell will swell from absorbing salt molecules. d. the red blood cell will shrink from losing water molecules.

Explanation:

This is based on the principle of osmosis. In a hyper - tonic solution (higher salt concentration outside the cell), water moves out of the cell (red blood cell) from an area of lower solute concentration (inside the cell) to an area of higher solute concentration (outside the cell).

Answer:

D. The red blood cell will shrink from losing water molecules.