Final answer:
The word impermeable, combining the Latin root 'perm' and the prefix 'im-', means 'not capable of being passed through.' It is distinct from a semipermeable membrane, which allows specific molecules to pass while blocking others. Option B is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word impermeable is derived from the Latin root perm, which means "to pass through," and the prefix im-, which means "not." Therefore, when these parts are put together, the meaning of impermeable becomes literally "not capable of being passed through." This term is often used in the context of materials and membranes, indicating that substances cannot pass through them. For example, plastic wrap might be considered impermeable to water. The option B: "not capable of being passed through" most accurately captures the essence of the term impermeable.
On the other hand, a semipermeable membrane, similar in concept but differing in its properties, is a thin membrane that allows certain small molecules to pass while blocking others. This is critical in biological systems where such membranes control the entry and exit of substances in cells. An example of a semipermeable membrane in biology is the cell membrane, which regulates the movement of ions and molecules into and out of the cell.