Saline hypertonic/hypotonic/isotonic question

Question

A nurse attaches an IV to a patient that provides a saline solution that is 5% sodium chloride and 5% potassium phosphate and contains no other solutes. If the total solute concentration of a red blood cell is 5%, is the IV solution hypertonic, hypotonic, or isotonic relative to the red blood cells, and what will happen to the red blood cells when the IV solution is added to the blood stream?

a. hypertonic- red blood cells will shrink

b. isotonic, red blood cell volume will not change

c. hypertonic, red blood cells will shrink

d. hypotonic, red blood cells will expand

e. hypertonic, red blood cells will expand

Answer 1

In your choices, a and c are the same.

The IV solution is HYPERTONIC and red blood cells will shrink. (choices a and c).