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?

Question

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

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

a The salt water is a hypertonic solution, and the swollen cells in Devin's mouth will release water through osmosis.

When a hypertonic solution (like the saltwater) comes into contact with cells that are swollen (which contain more water), it creates a concentration gradient. Water will move out of the swollen cells and into the saltwater solution in an attempt to balance the concentration of solutes on both sides of the cell membrane. This process is known as osmosis. As water leaves the swollen cells, the swelling will decrease, aiding in healing.