2007-04-21 13:10:41 · 4 answers · asked by Melissa H 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Osmosis is your answer. The fresh water will go into the cell while trying to achieve equilibrium. The water will not stop diffusing into the cell until the water percentage is the same as its surroundings. In order to do this the cell will absorb more water than it can carry and it will burst.
2007-04-21 14:15:08 · answer #1 · answered by Neo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fresh water is hypotonic for red blood cells. This means that more water diffuses into the cells than the amount of water that diffuses out of the cells. The increased volume of water inside the cell puts pressure on the plasma membrane. The cells swell up and burst.
2007-04-21 20:13:55 · answer #2 · answered by ecolink 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The absorb too much water because the inside is concentated with solutes. Water will go in to dilute the solute, and cell breaks open because of turgidity.
2007-04-21 20:21:24 · answer #3 · answered by African 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
diffusion
2007-04-21 20:17:47 · answer #4 · answered by audaciously_shy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋