Explain the consequences of placing a red blood cell in hypotonic, isotonic, and hypertonic solutions respectively.

In a hypotonic solution, water will move into the red blood cell, causing it to swell and potentially burst (hemolysis) due to the lower solute concentration outside the cell. In an isotonic solution, there will be no net movement of water, and the red blood cell will maintain its normal shape. In a hypertonic solution, water will move out of the red blood cell, causing it to shrink and shrivel (crenation) due to the higher solute concentration outside the cell.