Question

scenario 4:
a man stranded on a deserted
island feels thirstier after drinking
ocean water.
q1. tonicity of the solution?
q2. how do the cells respond?
q3. what question could you ask
to confirm?

Explanation:

Q1

Ocean water has a higher solute (salt) concentration than the inside of human cells. A hypertonic solution has a higher solute concentration relative to another solution (here, the cell's interior). So ocean water is hypertonic.

In a hypertonic solution (ocean water), water moves out of cells (osmosis, from low solute to high solute concentration) to try to balance solute concentrations. When water leaves cells, they shrink (crenate in animal cells).

To confirm tonicity and cell response, we can ask about solute concentration or water movement. For example, asking about the salt concentration in ocean water vs. cell cytoplasm, or if cells lose water when in ocean water, helps confirm the hypertonic nature and response. A sample question: "What is the relative salt concentration of ocean water compared to human blood plasma (or cell cytoplasm)?"

Answer:

Hypertonic

Q2