In Biology Red blood cells a good colorful example of an ani

In Biology: Red blood cells (a good, colorful example of an animal cell type) when placed in pure water swell up and eventually explode. Why would these cells swell up? What does this tell us about the solute concentration inside the cell compare with the pure water? Why do these cells eventually explode?

Solution

Answer:

According to osmosis, water moves from its(water) high concentration (low solute concentration) to low water concentration (high solute concentration) through semipermeable membrane.

Simply, water moves from low solute concentration solution to high solute concentration solution through semipermeable membrane.

The red blood cell consists of high solute concentration when compare to pure water, so water moves from pure water (low solute concentration) into the red blood cell(high solute concentration). Hence, the red blood cells swell up and finally those cells explode.