Earth-worm and salt

Why Salt Kills Earthworm [Lumbricus Terrestris]

     
      Salt particularly sodium chloride [NACL] is an essential drying agent. In chemistry, the drying process which involve the removal of water molecule from a surface or surrounding is known as hygrocopy with the substance absorbing the water from the surrounding known as the drying agent.
   
      Earth worms use their skin for respiration as respiratory gases such as oxygen and carbon-dioxide diffuses in and out of their body cells via permeable membranes during the respiration process with their as the means to an adequate respirational activity.
     
     For the skin to facilitate the respirational process efficiently and adequately, it needs proper moisture i.e. the surface of the skin ought to be moist with water that acts as a lubricant allowing proper diffusion through the permeable membrane on the skin.
 
    Noting this and understanding the fact that salt particularly sodium chloride acts as a drying agent with emphasis that earth-worm’s respiratory organ is its skin, the necessary moisture needed for the respiratory gases to diffuse is absorbed by the salt [NACL] thus inhibiting or preventing the earth-worm from respiring thus leading to its eventual death.