Question

Explain how the release of sodium and chlorine would lead to a loss of water in the intestines

Answer 1

Answer:

Please find the explanation below

Explanation:

Sodium (Na) and Chlorine (Cl) are two electrolytes that play important role in the absorption of water and nutrients in the small intestine. However, as mentioned in the question, the release of sodium and chlorine would lead to a loss of water in the intestines. This is because of the OSMOTIC phenomenon.

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from a region of high concentration of water/low concentration of solute to a region of low concentration of water/high concentration of solute via a semipermeable membrane. In this case, the Na+ and Cl- ions serve as the solutes, which when released out of the intestine causes the solution in the intestines to be HYPOTONIC compared to the intestinal environment. This causes an OSMOTIC GRADIENT.

This osmotic gradient i.e. difference in concentration provokes osmotic flow of water from the intestines, which has a low solute/high water concentration, to the outside of the intestines, which has a high solute/low water concentration. Hence, water is lost from the intestine because the solute concentration becomes low when sodium and chlorine ions are released.