Question

Why does osmosis occur?

a) To balance the concentration of solutes on both sides of the membrane
b) To increase the concentration of solutes in a solution
c) To decrease the concentration of solutes in a solution
d) To prevent the movement of water across the membrane

Answer 1

Osmosis occurs to balance solute concentrations across a semipermeable membrane by moving water of high water concentration. The correct answer is option a).

Step-by-step explanation:

Osmosis occurs to balance the concentration of solutes on both sides of a semipermeable membrane. This biological process is driven by the need to equalize solute concentrations, which results in water moving from an area where it is in high concentration (low solute concentration) to an area of low water concentration (high solute concentration).

Through osmosis, cells can maintain cellular integrity and adapt to changes in solute composition in their extracellular environment. In the context of an experiment with a beaker and a semipermeable membrane, where different concentrations of a solute are present on each side, osmosis will cause water to move towards the side with the higher solute concentration.

The presence of aquaporins facilitates this movement of water across cell membranes. It is the presence of solute molecules, rather than their size, that influences this process, and osmosis functions to equalize the number of solute particles by the movement of water, not the solutes that are membrane-impermeable themselves.