Question

A semi-permeable membranous sac contains a 4% NaCl, 96% water solution. This sac is

placed into a beaker containing a 16% NaCl, 84% water solution. The membrane is
NOT permeable to Naci. Which way will water flow across the membrane (into or out
of the sac)?

Answer 1

Water will flow out of the sac to the beaker containing the hypertonic solution due to the process of osmosis across the semipermeable membrane.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the scenario where a semipermeable membrane separates a 4% NaCl solution from a 16% NaCl solution, osmosis will occur. Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a semipermeable membrane down its concentration gradient. In this case, the membrane is permeable to water but not to NaCl. Therefore, water will move from the side of higher water concentration (inside the sac, which is the hypotonic solution) to the side of lower water concentration (outside the sac, in the hypertonic solution) to equalize water concentration across the membrane.