Question
A student with swollen gums gargles with warm salt water and experiences decreased swelling. Which statement best explains what has occurred?
Responses
The high temperature of the warm salt water kills all infection-causing microbes.
The high temperature of the warm salt water kills all infection-causing microbes.
The saltwater solution is absorbed by cells in the gums.
The saltwater solution is absorbed by cells in the gums.
The water in the gums moves from a high to a low concentration of water.
The water in the gums moves from a high to a low concentration of water.
The salt in the saltwater solution is transferred into the cells through passive transport.
Responses
The high temperature of the warm salt water kills all infection-causing microbes.
The high temperature of the warm salt water kills all infection-causing microbes.
The saltwater solution is absorbed by cells in the gums.
The saltwater solution is absorbed by cells in the gums.
The water in the gums moves from a high to a low concentration of water.
The water in the gums moves from a high to a low concentration of water.
The salt in the saltwater solution is transferred into the cells through passive transport.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The best statement that explains what has occurred is:
**The water in the gums moves from a high to a low concentration of water.**
Gargling with warm salt water creates a hypertonic environment around the gums. The high concentration of salt outside the gum cells causes water to move out of the swollen gum tissues, which leads to a decrease in swelling. This process is called osmosis, where water moves from areas of higher water concentration (lower solute concentration) to areas of lower water concentration (higher solute concentration).
**The water in the gums moves from a high to a low concentration of water.**
Gargling with warm salt water creates a hypertonic environment around the gums. The high concentration of salt outside the gum cells causes water to move out of the swollen gum tissues, which leads to a decrease in swelling. This process is called osmosis, where water moves from areas of higher water concentration (lower solute concentration) to areas of lower water concentration (higher solute concentration).