Question

What would happen if you were given pure water in an IV bag

Answer 1

Blood cells in your body are permeable meaning that they can absorb particles in the blood such as sugar and salts, etc. IV bags usually have a solution of salt and other solubles because these blood cells are permeable. There is also one key thing to remember, water follows solute. So, because these blood cells have other contents besides water, the water in the IV bag will fill up these cells and most likely make them explode, since these blood cells (as I mentioned earlier) are permeable. Giving a person just water in an IV water could potentially do some major damage.