Final answer:
Osmolarity of a solution is a measure of solute concentration which details the total number of dissolved particles and helps determine osmotic pressure. It's critical in biological systems for processes like osmosis, differing from other concentration measurements like molality.
Step-by-step explanation:
The osmolarity of a solution is a measure of solute concentration. This means it relates to the total number of solute particles dissolved in a specific amount of solution. Osmolarity is used to determine the osmotic pressure which can have biological implications, for instance in determining hydration levels through plasma osmolality. Unlike molality, which is a measure of the moles of solute divided by the kilograms of solvent, osmolarity involves the concentration of all particles contributing to the osmotic pressure of a solution.
Osmosis, on the other hand, is the transport of water through a semipermeable membrane from an area of high water concentration to an area of lower water concentration. Osmolarity is essential in understanding osmosis as the osmotic pressure driven by the osmolarity differences can result in the movement of water across membranes, crucial in biological systems such as human cells.