Re: Why are tears salty?

Basically, tears are salty because people are salty!  That might sound like a 
silly answer, but it is the true answer.  All cells in the body have a certain 
amount of salt in them (called osmolarity).  The liquids surrounding the cell 
have the same amount of salt (called isotonic).  If the liquid had more salt, 
water would rush out of the cells the cell would shrivel up.  If the liquid had 
less salt, like pure water, the water would rush into the cell and the cell 
would pop.  So you see, it is imporant that body fluids have just the right 
amount of salt, including tears!  

	Erin Cram, Admin MadSci Network