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?
a. Yes, Distilled water is pure and will cause no harm.
b. Yes, The IV will be isotonic to the cell cytoplasm, so it will have no adverse effect on the cells.
c. No, The IV will be hypertonic compared to the cell cytoplasm causing the cells to shrivel.
d. No, The IV will be hypotonic compared to the cell cytoplasm causing the cells to explode.

Answer 1

The correct answer is option d. No, The IV will be hypotonic compared to the cell cytoplasm causing the cells to explode.

The distilled water have only water molecules in it. The Intravenous injection of the distilled water would reduce the osmolarity if the blood plasma. Due to the decreased osmolarity, the plasma would become hypotonic to the blood cells. As a result, the cells would allow the water to come inside them, and result in its swelling and eventually bursting of the blood cells.

Answer 2

d. No, The IV will be hypotonic compared to the cell cytoplasm causing the cells to explode. Because the Iv contains no other nutrients or constituents, it is less concentrated (hypotonic) than the cell and then cell cytoplasm absorbs the water to try to adapt to this. The cell will eventually become turgid (swollen) and explode.