Real World Examples of Osmosis

Example 1Sore throat? Gargle salt water. Why?

• swelling throat tissues, contain H2O• salt water has lower concentration than throat tissue so by osmosis, water moves from throat tissues out to the salt water• loss of H2O decreases the swelling and relieves some pain

Example 2Sticky wooden door? Sticky dresser drawer?

• when it rains: wood absorbs H2O from air due to osmosis (hypotonic)• when it is dry: H2O is lost from wood, returns to normal condition (hypertonic)

Example 3Why does salt kill slugs?

• liquids inside slug sent to dilute the salt and maintain mucus layer

• salt will dehydrate slug’s body cause the slug to die because all the liquids would leave its body (hypertonic)