What is a long chain of amino acids called?

Electrolytes are essential for numerous physiological processes, and are critical for maintaining homeostasis. Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride regulate nerve and muscle function, fluid balance, blood pressure, and acid-base equilibrium, all of which are essential for normal body function.

A. Shrink: Shrinking of a red blood cell occurs when it is placed in a hypertonic solution, where water moves out of the cell. Distilled water is hypotonic, so shrinking will not occur.

B. Swell initially, then shrink as equilibrium is reached: In a hypotonic environment, water enters the cell continuously due to osmotic pressure. Red blood cells do not have mechanisms to expel water quickly, so they do not shrink after initial swelling.

C. Swell and may burst: Distilled water is hypotonic compared to the cytoplasm of red blood cells. Water moves into the cells by osmosis, increasing internal pressure, which can cause the cells to swell and eventually lyse (burst) if the influx is excessive.

D. Neither shrink nor swell: This would occur only in an isotonic solution, where solute concentrations inside and outside the cell are equal. Since distilled water is hypotonic, the red blood cell will experience swelling rather than remain the same size.