Answer to Question #69039 in Chemistry for Arshdeep Singh dhanda

Question

Monika had some guests visiting one Sunday afternoon. While serving them tea from the kettle, a gush of steam suddenly burns her fingers and she feel intense pain. Her mother advises her to put fingers in cold water. After sometimes the pain subsides. Answer the following question based on the above situation. What could be the possible reason for the intense pain felt by Monika? Why does mother ask her to keep her fingers in cold water? What value are promoted by monika's mother

Answer 1

As high temperature is identified by receptors, they are signaling about danger to the brain. While recognizing this danger, brain develops a protective reaction – pain, motivating the person to take immediate actions to avoid further contact with dangerous factor. That is why Monika feels pain. That is a normal reaction of nervous system.

Keeping finger in cold water help to reduce pain. However, this is helpless in further avoidance of skin injury, if any is present already.