system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Why does salt in an open wound hurt?
gpt
Neurons have proteins embedded in their membranes that allow ions to pass through such as calcium ( Ca^2+ ), potassium ( K^+ ), and chlorine ( Cl^- ). When table sat (NaCl) gets into a wound, it breaks into Na^+ and Cl^- ions. The sudden influx of Cl^- ions disrupts the balance between positive and negative ions that are located on either side of the membrane. The interior of the neuron will shift from a positive charge to a negative change (or vice versa) resulting in an action potential (signal) being sent down the neuron, which triggers the sensation of pain.