Final answer:
In a system where the membrane is impermeable to the solute, osmosis would result in the movement of solvent from higher to lower solvent concentration across the membrane, aiming to equalize solute concentration on both sides.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the membrane were impermeable to the solute, osmosis would occur in the direction where the solvent moves from a region of higher solvent concentration to a region of lower solvent concentration. In other words, the solvent would pass through the semipermeable membrane from the pure solvent side into the solution side because the solution has a lower concentration of solvent due to the presence of solute particles. This net transfer of solvent molecules would dilute the solution until the concentration gradient diminishes, or until dynamic equilibrium is reached, balancing the hydrostatic and osmotic pressures.
Osmosis is a natural process wherein water (or any solvent) moves through a semipermeable membrane towards the side with a lower concentration of water (higher concentration of solute). It's driven by the propensity of substances to spread evenly in a given medium. Since osmosis only refers to the movement of the solvent and not the solute, if a membrane is impermeable to the solute, then only the solvent will move to achieve balance.