What would happen to a red blood cell placed in a hypertonic solution?

When a red blood cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, the concentration of solutes outside the cell is greater than that inside the cell. In response to this difference in solute concentration, water will move out of the cell in an attempt to balance the concentration of solutes on both sides of the membrane. This process is known as osmosis.

As water leaves the cell, the red blood cell will lose volume, leading to a decrease in its size—a process referred to as crenation. The shrinking of the cell occurs because it is losing water to the surrounding hypertonic solution, which has a higher osmotic pressure. As a result, the red blood cell becomes smaller and more concentrated.

This understanding of osmotic principles is crucial in biology, especially in contexts involving cell behavior in different environments, such as in medical scenarios or when considering the effects of various solutions on cellular integrity.