Question

Connie is participating in a taste experiment. The experimenter is using a medicine dropper to place droplets of a salt solution on Connie's tongue. The first salt solution is very dilute; as the experiment progresses, the solutions become increasingly more concentrated. Connie's job is to identify the point at which the droplet tastes "salty". What is this experiment measuring and which experimental method is being used?

Answer 1

Connie's taste experiment measures her taste threshold for saltiness using a method called serial dilution to find the minimum concentration of a salt solution that can be tasted.

Step-by-step explanation:

The experiment that Connie is participating in is designed to measure her taste threshold for saltiness, which is the minimum concentration of a salt solution that produces a salty taste sensation. This threshold varies from person to person and can be influenced by genetic factors. The method used in this experiment is known as a serial dilution, where the salt solution is made to become progressively more concentrated. This is done to accurately pinpoint the concentration level at which saltiness is detected. By identifying the point at which the solution tastes "salty" to Connie, researchers can determine her sensitivity to sodium ions (Na+).

The salty taste is a result of the perception of sodium ions in saliva, where salt crystals dissociate into Na+ and Cl-. A higher concentration of Na+ outside gustatory cells creates a concentration gradient, facilitating the diffusion of the ion into cells and leading to the depolarization of the cell membrane. This depolarization generates a receptor potential, eventually resulting in the perception of taste.