The internal salt concentration of a red blood cell is 150

The internal salt concentration of a red blood cell is - 150 mM. A sample of red blood cells is placed in a 10 mM NaCl solution. What do you expect to happen to the red blood cells? Briefly explain.

Solution

There will be firstly increase in the diameter of the cell, as its placed in a hypotonoc salt concentration. Influs of water will be more then the efflux, thus the volume of the cell increases.The plasma membrane is relatively inlastic and ruptures (hemolysis), following only a very slight volume increase, leaving the cell membrane (ghost) behind.