Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT) Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

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What is the reason potassium dialyzes while red blood cells do not?

Potassium has a larger molecular weight

Potassium has a smaller molecular weight

Potassium dialyzes while red blood cells do not primarily due to the size of the particles involved. Potassium ions are small and have a much lower molecular weight compared to the size of red blood cells. Dialysis functions by allowing smaller solutes, like potassium, to pass through the semipermeable membrane of the dialysis machine, while larger components, such as red blood cells, are too large to fit through the pores of the membrane and are retained in the blood compartment.

This concept is fundamental to the process of hemodialysis, where it is critical to remove excess small molecules and electrolytes from the blood while preserving larger blood components. The molecular structure and size relationship is essential; larger particles, such as red blood cells, cannot pass through the dialyzer, whereas the small potassium ions can easily diffuse across.

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Red blood cells have a higher concentration

Potassium is more soluble in water

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