You’re stranded in the desert and see an oasis. It’s your only source of water. Upon further inspection, you discover it has a high concentration of salt. Do you drink it? Why or why not? Describe the process of osmosis in your answer.
6 months agoReport content

Answer

Full Solution Locked

Sign in to view the complete step-by-step solution and unlock all study resources.

Step 1
Here's a comprehensive explanation addressing the desert water scenario and osmosis:

Step 2
: Assess the Water Source

The saltwater oasis presents a critical survival challenge. Drinking this water would be dangerous due to its high salt concentration, which would actually accelerate dehydration through a biological process called osmosis.

Final Answer

The osmotic pressure would cause rapid cellular dehydration, accelerating your body's water loss and potentially leading to fatal consequences.