Question

if you have ever had a stomach virus, you know how hard it can be to stay hydrated when everything you eat or drink seems to come right back up. if you become very dehydrated you may have needed to receive iv fluids to help keep your body functioning. your iv will typically contain saline (0.9% salt in sterile water) or another similar solution of sterile water and ions. what would happen to your blood cells if you received an iv of pure water instead? your cells would shrink because the concentration of ions would now be higher inside the cell than outside the cell and the ions would diffuse through the membrane out of your cells. your cells would shrink because the concentration of molecules in solution would now be higher outside the cell than inside the cell and water would diffuse through the membrane out of your cells. your cells would swell because the concentration of molecules in solution would now be higher inside the cell than outside the cell and water would diffuse through the membrane into your cells. your cells would swell because the concentration of molecules in solution would now be higher outside the cell than inside the cell and water would diffuse through the membrane into your cells.

Explanation:

Blood cells are in an isotonic environment with normal - saline IVs. Pure water is hypotonic compared to the inside of blood cells. Water moves from an area of lower solute concentration (pure water) to an area of higher solute concentration (inside the cell) by osmosis. This causes the cells to take in water and swell.

Answer:

Your cells would swell because the concentration of molecules in solution would now be higher inside the cell than outside the cell and water would diffuse through the membrane into your cells.