Question

Osmotic solutions describe solutions in which osmosis occurs.
a-true
b-false

Answer 1

Tonicity describes how an extracellular solution can change the volume of a cell by affecting osmosis.

Step-by-step explanation:

Tonicity describes how an extracellular solution can change the volume of a cell by affecting osmosis. A solution's tonicity often directly correlates with the osmolarity of the solution. Osmolarity describes the total solute concentration of the solution. In a situation in which solutions of two different osmolarities are separated by a membrane permeable to water, though not to the solute, water will move from the side of the membrane with lower osmolarity (and more water) to the side with higher osmolarity (and less water)

. This effect makes sense if you remember that the solute cannot move across the membrane, and thus the only component in the system that can move- -the water-moves along its own concentration gradient.