Final answer:
The correct answer to the student's question is that the net flow of solvent (water) is into the dialysis tubing, as it is hypertonic relative to the surrounding solution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Tonicity and Osmosis
When considering the situation described, where dialysis tubing with a 5% solute concentration is placed in a beaker with a 2% solute concentration, several key concepts of tonicity and osmosis come into play. We are dealing with two solutions of different concentrations separated by a semipermeable membrane.
The solution inside the dialysis tubing is hypertonic relative to the beaker's solution because it has a higher concentration of solute (5% vs. 2%). As a result, the net flow of solvent (which here is water) will be into the dialysis tubing from the beaker, trying to equalize the solute concentration across the membrane. This influx of water will continue until the concentrations are equalized, or isotonic, or until the osmotic pressure is balanced by the hydrostatic pressure.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is: The net flow of solvent is into the dialysis tubing due to the principles of osmosis where water moves from an area of lower solute concentration (hypotonic solution) to an area of higher solute concentration (hypertonic solution) across a semipermeable membrane.