Question

when stranded on an ocean, it is advised to not drink the ocean water. why is that?
options:
ocean water is hypotonic.
ocean water is isotonic.
ocean water is hypertonic.
i dont know yet

Explanation:

Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration (hypotonic) to higher solute concentration (hypertonic). Ocean water has a higher solute (salt) concentration than human blood plasma. So ocean water is hypertonic relative to our body cells. When we drink hypertonic ocean water, water from our cells will move out (via osmosis) to try to dilute the ocean water in our body, leading to dehydration, which is why we shouldn't drink it. Hypotonic solutions have lower solute concentration, isotonic have equal, so those are incorrect.

Answer:

Ocean water is hypertonic.