Question

Describe what happens when sugar solutions with two different concentrations are placed on opposite sides of a semipermeable membrane in a container.

Answer 1

When sugar solutions of different concentrations are on opposite sides of a semipermeable membrane, the molecules on both sides of the membrane flow across the membrane. However, there is a net flow of molecules from the more concentrated solution into the less concentrated solution, until the concentrations are equal. Once equilibrium is reached, roughly equal numbers of molecules move in each direction across the membrane.