Observation under the microscope (animal cell)

You observe under a compound microscope all three microscope slides you prepared. This is what you will see.

Slide 4: Red blood cells in distilled water (hypotonic solution)

Slide 5: Red blood cells in 0.9% NaCl (isotonic solution)

Slide 6: Red blood cells in 6% NaCl (hypertonic solution)

Tom: Oh- these cells are so small compared to onion cells. They look so different too!

You: Both in distilled water and 6% NaCl their shape is completely destroyed! They look like a raisin! Wow, I did not expect that! 

Prof. Smith: Indeed! What terminologies can we use to explain the red blood cell structural changes in distilled water (hypotonic solution), 6% NaCl solution (hypertonic solution) and 0.9% NaCl solution (isotonic solution)?