Osmosis Practice Problems

A red blood cell is placed in a 2% (m/v) NaCl solution. Identify what makes the red blood cell shrink, as shown in the figure.

Choose the illustration that depicts a red blood cell in a 100 mL glucose solution containing 5 grams of glucose:

Two solutions at different concentrations are placed in compartments I and II, separated by a semipermeable membrane. If the volumes in I and II are equal initially, choose the diagram that depicts the final level of the compartments given the following concentrations:

Determine whether a 0.9 g NaCl in a 100 mL NaCl solution is isotonic, hypotonic, or hypertonic to a red blood cell.

There are two solutions of magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) at different concentrations given below. Determine which compartment (I or II) will increase in volume if the two solutions are separated by a semipermeable membrane:

The recommended oral rehydration solution (ORS) for treating dehydration caused by diarrhea has the following ingredients: 3.5 g NaCl, 2.5 g NaHCO3, 1.5 g KCl, and 20 g glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) dissolved in 1.0 L of clean drinking water. 

(i) Calculate the osmolarity of the solution.

(ii) If the approximate ion concentration in the blood plasma is 0.30 osmol, is the solution hypertonic, isotonic, or hypotonic? 

(iii) Provide a reason for the calculated osmolarity of the solution. 

Two liquids are placed in a container and separated by a semipermeable membrane. The purple spheres represent the solute molecules while the gray spheres represent the solvent molecules. Which of the following diagram depicts once equilibrium is established? 

A Lactated Ringer's Solution is isotonic with red blood cells while a 3% NaCl solution is hypertonic. Which of the following statement is true?

A. The Lactated Ringer's Solution has lower osmolarity as red blood cells while the 3% NaCl has greater osmolarity.

B. The Lactated Ringer's Solution has greater osmolarity as red blood cells while the 3% NaCl has lower osmolarity.

C. The Lactated Ringer's Solution has the same osmolarity as red blood cells while the 3% NaCl has greater osmolarity.

D. The Lactated Ringer's Solution has the same osmolarity as red blood cells while the 3% NaCl has lower osmolarity.

Gather some information about dialysis and determine whether the following statement is true or false: Hemodialysis is an example of osmosis while peritoneal dialysis is an example of reverse osmosis.

When water evaporates, what will happen to the osmotic pressure of an aqueous solution?