Question

Osmosis involves a semi-permeable membrane with small pores that allow the solvent to travel across the membrane; however, larger solute molecules are unable to do so. The solvent is typically water.Water is able to diffuse across the membrane as it travels from the side with a lower solute concentration into the side with the higher solute concentration, in order to dilute the solute.The purpose of osmosis is to try and equalize the concentration of solute on both sides of the semi-permeable membrane.Assume there is a semipermeable membrane separating two compartments: the first compartment contains 3% glucose and the second compartment is 6% glucose. Select the answer that indicates what molecules will move and the correct direction.

Answer 1

Answer: solvent will move from the first compartment containing 3% glucose into the second compartment containing 6% glucose.

Explanation: osmosis is defined as the movement of solvent (example water molecules) from a region of lower concentrated solution into the region of more concentrated solution. The first compartment contains less glucose concentration with more solvent. Therefore, solvent will move from the first compartment with less glucose concentration into the second compartment containing 6% glucose concentration to achieve an equalised concentration of solute on both sides of the semi permeable membrane.