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 Devin's mouth will take in water through diffusion. b The salt water is a hypotonic solution, and the swollen cells in Devin's mouth will take in water through osmosis. c The salt water is a hypotonic solution, and the swollen cells in Devin's mouth will release water through diffusion. d The salt water is a hypertonic solution, and the swollen cells in Devin's mouth will release water through osmosis.

Answer 1

The correct option is: d. The salt water is a hypertonic solution, and the swollen cells in Kelvin's mouth will release water through osmosis.

Here's the reasoning:

When salt is dissolved in water, it creates a hypertonic solution (higher concentration of solutes compared to the cells in the mouth). As a result, water will move out of the swollen cells in Kelvin's mouth to balance the concentration of solutes, leading to a decrease in swelling. This is accomplished through the process of osmosis, where water moves from an area of lower solute concentration (inside the swollen cells) to an area of higher solute concentration (the surrounding saltwater solution). This helps reduce swelling and promotes healing.