Why are our sweat & tears salty, but mucus sweet?
by 
MATTress_Boy_R_Dee
ANSWERS: 4
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Mucus is sweet?
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Dont know the answer but its a good question rated you :)
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Sweat is saltly because the water that forms the sweat diffuses along a concentration gradient into the sweat glands. This gradient is created by the active transport of chloride into the gland (by the CFTR transporter - which is faulty in cystic fibrosis, thus one daignostic test is to lick the patient and see if they taste salty). Sodium ions then follow along an electochemical gradient (because chloride ions are negatively charged, and sodium ions positively charged, so sodium naturally wants to follow chloride). And common salt is sodium chloride, NaCl. Not sure why mucus is sweet, but then I can't say I ever noticed it was!
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I know that my mucus is salty as I've accidentally swallowed it whilst out cycling on a cold and frosty day!!! PS the scientific answer re the chloride and sodium ions is correct BUT why does the body use these ions for an active transport mechanism in the first place? stuartianfirth.03@virgin.net x
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