what is osmosis?

Answer 1

Osmosis is the movement of water through a semipermeable membrane from a region of low solute potential to a region of high solute potential (or equivalently, from a region of high solvent potential to a region of low solvent potential). The semipermeable membrane must be permeable to the solvent, but not to the solute, resulting in a pressure gradient across the membrane.

Answer 2

Osmosis is the movement of water through a selectively permeable membrane from a region of low solute potential to a region of high solute potential (or equivalently, from a region of high solvent potential to a region of low solvent potential). The semipermeable membrane must be permeable to the solvent, but not to the solute, resulting in a pressure gradient across the membrane. Osmosis is a natural phenomenon. However, it can be artificially opposed by increasing the pressure in the section of high solute concentration with respect to that in the low solute concentration. The force per unit area required to prevent the passage of solvent through a selectively-permeable membrane and into a solution of greater concentration is equivalent to the turgor pressure. Osmotic pressure is a colligative property, meaning that the property depends on the concentration of the solute but not on its identity.

Osmosis is an important topic in biology because it provides the primary means by which water is transported into and out of cells.

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Answer 3

Osmosis is the movement of water through a semipermeable membrane from a region of low solute potential to a region of high solute potential (or equivalently, from a region of high solvent potential to a region of low solvent potential). The semipermeable membrane must be permeable to the solvent, but not to the solute, resulting in a pressure gradient across the membrane. Osmosis is a natural phenomenon. However, it can be artificially opposed by increasing the pressure in the section of high solute concentration with respect to that in the low solute concentration. The force per unit area required to prevent the passage of solvent through a selectively-permeable membrane and into a solution of greater concentration is equivalent to the turgor pressure. Osmotic pressure is a colligative property, meaning that the property depends on the concentration of the solute but not on its identity.

Basic explanation of osmosis:
Consider a permeable membrane, such as visking tubing, with apertures small enough to allow water molecules, but not larger molecules, to pass through. Suppose the membrane is in a volume of pure water. At a molecular scale, every time a water molecule hits the membrane, it has a defined likelihood of passing through. In this case, since the circumstances on both sides of the membrane are equivalent, there is no net flow of water through it. However, if there is a solution on the other side, that side will have fewer water molecules and thus fewer collisions with the membrane. This will result in a net flow of water to the side with the solution. Assuming the membrane does not break, this net flow will slow and finally stop as the pressure on the solution side becomes such that the diffusion in each direction is equal.

Osmosis can also be explained via the notion of entropy, from statistical mechanics. As above, suppose a permeable membrane separates equal amounts of pure solvent and a solution. Since a solution possesses more entropy than pure solvent, the second law of thermodynamics states that solvent molecules will flow into the solution until the entropy of the combined system is maximized. Notice that, as this happens, the solvent loses entropy while the solution gains entropy. Equilibrium, hence maximum entropy, is achieved when the entropy gradient becomes zero.

Examples of osmosis:
Many plant cells perform osmosis. This is because the osmotic entry of water is opposed and eventually equaled by the pressure exerted by the cell wall, creating a steady state. In fact, osmotic pressure is the main cause of support in plant leaves.

When a plant cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, the water in the cells moves to an area higher in solute concentration, and the cell shrinks and so becomes flaccid [pron. flaxid]. (This means the cell has become plasmolysed - the cell membrane has completely left the cell wall due to lack of water pressure on it (the opposite of turgid)).

Osmosis can also be seen very effectively when potato slices are added to a high concentration of salt solution. The water from inside the potato moves to the salt solution, causing the potato to shrink and to lose its 'turgor pressure'. The more concentrated the salt solution, the bigger the difference in size and weight of the potato chip.

In unusual environments, osmosis can be very harmful to organisms. For example, freshwater and saltwater aquarium fish placed in water with a different salt level (than they are adapted to) will die quickly, and in the case of saltwater fish rather dramatically. Additionally, note the use of table salt to kill leeches and slugs.

Answer 4

According to the Thorndike dictionary, osmosis is the diffusion or spreading of fluids through a membrane or partition till they are mixed.

Answer 5

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

Answer 6

osmosis is the diffusion between a selectively permeable membrane

Answer 7

diffusion of water through a membrane

Answer 8

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