Neatly present all calculations requested below.
You know that plasma is a solution, composed of many differentsolutes in water. Most of these solutes are NaCl (0.9%). But thereare also proteins in plasma (Total protein=7g%), and albuminaccounts for more than half of that protein. So, let's assumealbumin's concentration in plasma is 4g%.
1) Compute the osmolalities for each substance, albumin andNaCl, in plasma.
Necessary information: NaCL molecular weight=58.5 g/mole. Themolecule is formed by ionic bonds, and dissociates into 2 ions.Albumin molecular weight=70,000 g/mole. Albumin is composed ofatoms which are covalently bonded, and do not dissociate. It is afact that the osmotic pressure exerted by 1 osmolal (1 osmole/L) ofsolute is 19,300 mmHg; (that's the same as 1mOsmolal (1mOsmole/L)solute exerting 19.3 mmHg pressure).
2) Compute the osmotic pressure exerted by each of thesubstances, albumin and NaCl in plasma. Which substance is larger?There are more molecules of which substance in plasma? With theinformation, which substance exerts greater osmotic pressure inplasma, NaCl or protein?
\"Colloid osmotic pressure\" is the term given to the osmoticpressure exerted by protein.
