Question

Are the following solutions isotonic, hypotonic, or hypertonic compared with a red blood cell?

a. distilled${\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$

b.$1\%(\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{v})\mathrm{glucose}$

c.$0.9\%(\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{v})\mathrm{NaCl}$

d.$15\%(\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{v})\mathrm{glucose}$

Short answer

a. The distilled ${\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$is a hypotonic solution.

b. $1\%\mathrm{glucose}$is a hypotonic solution.

c. $0.9\%(\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{v})\mathrm{NaCl}$is an isotonic solution.

d.$15\%(\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{v})\mathrm{glucose}$is a hypotonic solution.

Step-by-step solution

Part (a) Step 1: Given Information

We need to find whether distilled ${\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$is isotonic, hypotonic, or hypertonic compared with a red blood cell.

Part (a) Step 2: Explanation

Distilled water is a pure solvent since it contains no solute particles. This means it has a lower concentration compared to isotonic solutions such as $0.9(\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{v})\mathrm{NaCl}$solution and $5\%(\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{v})$solution, so it is called a hypotonic solution.

Part (b) Step 1: Given Information

We need to find whether$1\%(\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{v})\mathrm{glucose}$ is isotonic, hypotonic, or hypertonic compared with a red blood cell.

Part (b) Step 2: Explanation

A $1\%(\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{v})$glucose solution has a lower concentration compared to the isotonic solution$5\%(\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{v})$ glucose solution, so it is a hypotonic solution.

Part (c) Step 1: Given Information

We need to find whether$0.9\%(\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{v})\mathrm{NaCl}$ is isotonic, hypotonic, or hypertonic compared with a red blood cell.

Part (c) Step 2: Explanation

A $0.9\%(\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{v})\mathrm{NaC}$l solution has the same concentration compared to the the isotonic $\mathrm{NaCl}$solution $0.9\%(\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{v})\mathrm{NaCl}$solution, so it is an isotonic solution.

Part (d) Step 1: Given Information

We need to find whether$15\%(\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{v})\mathrm{glucose}$ is isotonic, hypotonic, or hypertonic compared with a red blood cell.

Part (d) Step 2: Explanation

A $15\%(\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{v})\mathrm{glucose}$solution has a higher concentration compared to the isotonic glucose solution $15\%(\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{v})\mathrm{glucose}$solution, so it is a hypertonic solution.