Would 0.3M & 1M of urea affect a red blood cell suspension? Did one appear quicker than the other? Why would this be?
0.3 M = Hypotonic solution for RBC
1M = isotonic solution for RBC
0.3M solution in water is considered as hypotonic. When the red cells are suspended in hypotonic solution, the water moves in to the cells by osmosis causing the cells to swell eventually burst called as haemolysis.
1M solution:
An iso-osmolar solution can be hypotonic if the solute is able to penetrate the cell membrane. For example, an iso-osmolar urea solution is hypotonic to red blood cells, causing their lysis. This is due to urea entering the cell down its concentration gradient, followed by water.
It is occurred due to Osmosis.
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