What type of solution causes blood cells to swell and burst?

A hypotonic solution is one that has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell. When blood cells are placed in a hypotonic solution, water moves into the cells through the process of osmosis to equalize the solute concentrations on both sides of the cell membrane. As water continues to enter the cell, the volume increases, which can lead to the swelling of the cells. If the influx of water is significant enough, the pressure can cause the blood cells to burst, a process known as lysis.

In contrast, an isotonic solution has the same concentration of solutes as the inside of the cell, leading to no net movement of water and maintaining the cells' normal shape. A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes than the inside of the cell, causing water to move out of the cells, leading to shrinkage rather than swelling. A concentrated solution typically refers to a high concentration of solutes, but it does not specify the comparison to the cell’s solute concentration and is not directly related to the swelling or bursting of blood cells. Therefore, the correct identification of the hypotonic solution is crucial for understanding how osmotic pressure affects blood cells and leads to their potential bursting.