# Explain why red blood cells, which are placed into pure water, will eventually burst.

> AQA GCSE Biology (8461) — 4.1.3 Transport in cells · Explain · 4 marks

> Red blood cells are specialised cells found in the blood. They do not have a cell wall.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Water moves into the red blood cell by osmosis
2. Water moves from the dilute solution (pure water) to the more concentrated solution (cell contents) through the partially permeable cell membrane
3. The cell swells / increases in volume as water enters
4. The cell bursts because it has no cell wall to provide support / withstand the increased pressure

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