Question 7
Kelvin got his wisdom teeth removed and his mouth is swollen. His doctor tells him to rinse his mouth with a warm saltwater solution every few hours. How does the saltwater solution help heal Kelvin's mouth?
a
The salt water is a hypertonic solution, and the swollen cells in Kelvin's mouth will release water through osmosis.
b
The salt water is a hypotonic solution, and the swollen cells in Kelvin's mouth will take in water through osmosis.
c
The salt water is a hypertonic solution, and the swollen cells in Kelvin's mouth will take in water through diffusion.
d
The salt water is a hypotonic solution, and the swollen cells in Kelvin's mouth will release water through diffusion.
a. The salt water is a hypertonic solution, and the swollen cells in Kelvin's mouth will release water through osmosis.
When a hypertonic solution (salt water) is used to rinse the mouth, the concentration of solutes outside of the cells is higher than inside the cells. This causes water to move out of the swollen cells in Kelvin's mouth through osmosis, helping to reduce the swelling.