Question

Distilled water is devoid of any solutes. It contains no additional gases, minerals, or contaminants. Would it be right to give a person an IV (intravenous) therapy of distilled water?
Yes. Distilled water is pure and will cause no harm.

Yes. The IV will be isotonic to the cell cytoplasm, so it will have no adverse effect on the cells.

No. The IV will be hypertonic compared to the cell cytoplasm causing the cells to shrivel.

No. The IV will be hypotonic compared to the cell cytoplasm causing the cells to explode.

Answer 1

Ans.

Distilled water is hypotonic (less concentrated than solution present inside of the cells) solution due to absence of solutes. When distilled water is given to a person as an intravenous therapy (IV), water moves from outside of the red blood cells to inside, due to osmosis as it results in movement of water from low solute to high solute region.  

It leads to swelling and eventually bursting of red blood cells that causes hemolysis. So, it would be wrong to give a person distilled water as an IV therapy.

Thus, the correct answer is option) 'no. The IV will be hypotonic compared to the cell cytoplasm causing the cells to explode.'

Answer 2

It contains no additional gases, minerals, or contaminants. ... Would it be right to give a person an IV (intravenous) therapy of distilled water? Yes. Distilled water is pure and will cause no harm. Yes. The IV will be isotonic