You mix one liter of 300 mOsM NaCl with two liters 450 mOsM glucose.

A. What is the osmolarity of the new solution?
B. What is the final osmolarity of the NaCl in the new solution?
C. What is the final osmolarity of glucose in the new solution?
D. What is the tonicity of this new solution compared to a red blood cell with 300 mOsM nonpenetrating solute?


A. 300 mOsM NaCl × 1 L = 300 mOsmoles NaCl.
450 mOsM glucose × 2 L = 900 mOsmoles glucose.
Total solutes = 900 mOsmoles + 300 mOsmoles = 1200 mOsmoles.
Total volume = 1 L + 2 L = 3 L. 1200 mOsmoles/3 L = 400 mOsM solution.
B. 300 mOsmoles/3 L = 100 mOsM NaCl.
C. 900 mOsmoles/3 L = 300 mOsM glucose.
D. Solution is hyperosmotic. Glucose is a penetrating solute, so glucose diffuses into the cell, raising the
osmolarity, causing water to diffuse into the cell. The cell swells. Thus, the solution is hypotonic.

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