Practice question · Numerical answer
A cell is placed in a solution and its volume does not change. If the cell’s internal solute concentration is 0.30 mol/L, what is the solute concentration of the solution, in mol/L?
Hints
- No net water movement means the two concentrations are balanced.
- An isotonic solution matches the cell’s own concentration.
Show the answer
0.3 (answers within ±0.005 count)
Why
No net movement means the solution is isotonic, so its concentration equals the cell’s own 0.30 mol/L. This is exactly why intravenous saline is prepared at the concentration of blood plasma.
Practise Membranes, Transport and the Energy Currency
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