Question

What is osmosis? What is osmotic pressure? Match the items in the left column to the appropriate blanks in the sentences on the right. Osmosis is defined as the flow of from a solution of concentration to one of osmotic pressure is the pressure required to following equation:

Answer 1

Osmosis is the flow of water from a less concentrated to a more concentrated solution across a semipermeable membrane, while osmotic pressure is the pressure needed to prevent this flow and maintain equilibrium. Both are vital biological processes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Osmosis and Osmotic Pressure Defined

Osmosis is the passage of water and small molecules across a semipermeable membrane, with a net flow from a less concentrated solution to a more concentrated solution. This natural process is vital in various biological systems, acting as a means to regulate the internal environment of cells.

Osmotic pressure is a colligative property of solutions that emerges when two solutions of different concentrations are separated by a semipermeable membrane. It is defined as the pressure required to prevent water from flowing through the membrane from the hypotonic (lower solute concentration) side to the hypertonic (higher solute concentration) side. This pressure is necessary to maintain equilibrium and is essential in biological systems for maintaining cell shape and volume.

Examples of Osmosis and Osmotic Pressure

Osmotic pressure can be demonstrated experimentally by the difference in height of a liquid column when two solutions of different concentrations are separated by a semipermeable membrane. As water moves from the less concentrated to the more concentrated solution, the water level rises on the concentrated side, creating a pressure that eventually stops the net flow when equilibrium is reached. In plant life, osmosis plays a crucial role as it is responsible for the absorption of water by root cells and helps maintain turgor pressure within plant cells.

Answer 2

Osmosis is the movement of solvent molecules through a semipermeable membrane from a lower to a higher solute concentration. Osmotic pressure is the force required to prevent this flow, depending on solute concentration and is critical for cellular function in living organisms, particularly in plant turgidity and physiological processes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Osmosis is defined as the flow of solvent molecules from a solution of lower solute concentration to one of higher solute concentration through a semipermeable membrane. This natural process, driven by concentration differences, is crucial for maintaining cellular functions and balance in living organisms.

Osmotic pressure refers to the pressure that must be applied to a solution to prevent the inward flow of water across a semipermeable membrane. It is directly proportional to the solute concentration of the solution, obeying a law that resembles the ideal gas equation.

In biological systems, osmotic pressure is essential for the regulation of water and solute balance, especially in plant life. For example, plant cells use osmotic pressure to maintain turgidity, which is vital for their structure and function. Osmosis also plays a key role in various physiological processes such as nutrient absorption and waste removal.

Osmotic pressure is a colligative property and can be calculated using the solute concentration, temperature, and the ideal gas constant, which resembles the ideal gas law. This principle holds significant importance in fields like medicine, where it helps in understanding and administering intravenous fluids of correct concentrations to patients.