question_answer

  What will happen when red blood corpuscles (RBCs) are placed in (a) 1 % NaCI solution (b) 0.6% NaCI solution?

Answer:

                  We all know that RBCs are isotonic with 0.9% NaCI solution. (a) If RBCs are placed in contact with 1 % NaCI solution, then the osmotic pressure of 1 % NaCI will be higher than that RBCs. As a result, water present inside the cell moves into the NaCI solution through cell walls acting as semi-permeable membrane. The RBCs will therefore, shrink. (b) However, reverse will take place in case these are kept in contact with 0.6% NaCI solution which has less osmotic pressure. Water will now move into the RBCs and they will swell.