You are adrift in the Atlantic Ocean, and, being thirsty, drink the surrounding seawater. As a result, which of the following occurs?
A. Your cells become turgid
B. Your cells lyse from excessive water intake
C. You dehydrate
D. You quench your thirst
Answer (2)
Drinking seawater leads to dehydration because the high salt concentration causes water to leave your cells, making them shrink. Thus, your cells do not become turgid or lyse from excessive water intake, nor do you quench your thirst. The correct answer is C: You dehydrate.
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When a person drinks seawater, like the surrounding seawater when adrift in the Atlantic Ocean, the high salt concentration in the water affects the body's cellular biology negatively. Let's explore these effects step-by-step:
Seawater Composition : Seawater contains a high concentration of salt, primarily sodium chloride.
Cellular Osmosis : When seawater is consumed, the concentration of salt outside the body's cells becomes higher than inside them. This leads to osmosis, where water moves from an area of lower solute concentration (inside the cells) to an area of higher solute concentration (outside the cells) in an attempt to balance solute levels.
Dehydration : As a result of this osmotic movement, water exits the cells, causing them to lose water and shrink. This process leads to dehydration because instead of hydrating the body, drinking seawater causes more water to leave the cells.
Effects on the Body : This cellular dehydration can be dangerous, leading to symptoms such as dry mouth, thirst, decreased urine production, and, in severe cases, confusion and organ failure.
Therefore, the correct choice is (C) You dehydrate . Drinking seawater worsens dehydration rather than alleviating it because it draws water out of the body's cells.
