If you are asked to transport a sample of red blood cells in a solution, which type of osmotic solution will you prefer and why? ?

I would prefer to transport the red blood cells in an isotonic solution. An isotonic solution has the same concentration of solutes as the red blood cells, which helps to maintain the cells' shape and prevent them from bursting or shrinking due to osmotic pressure. This ensures that the red blood cells remain healthy and functional during transportation.

Isotonic solution

When transporting a sample of red blood cells, an isotonic solution is preferred because it maintains the normal size and shape of the cells. This is important because:

- Isotonic solutions prevent cell swelling: If the cells are placed in a hypotonic solution (a solution with a lower solute concentration than the cell), water will enter the cells, causing them to swell and possibly burst (hemolysis).
- Isotonic solutions prevent cell shrinkage: If the cells are placed in a hypertonic solution (a solution with a higher solute concentration than the cell), water will leave the cells, causing them to shrink and become crenated (misshapen).

An isotonic solution has the same solute concentration as the inside of the red blood cell, so there is no net movement of water into or out of the cell. This keeps the cells at their normal size and shape and prevents damage.