What happens to the red blood cell in CaCl₂ solution?

Question

Here's the problem:One red blood cell is placed in a hypertonic solution of NaCl, another isplaced in a solution of CaCl₂ equimolar with the NaCl solution. Whatwould you expect to happen and why?My reasoning is that the red blood cell will shrink due to water loss by osmosis when placed in hypertonic NaCl. It will shrink even further due to the larger osmosis gradient due to there being such low concentration of Ca²⁺ normally in the cell. However, I'm not sure if this is right so could someone please explain the correct answer?

Answer 1

If the NaCl is hypertonic, the CaCl2 being the same molarity will be even MORE hypertonic because CaCl2 produces 3 ions where NaCl produces only 2 ions. So it will produce more shrinkage or faster