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(a) (i) What is osmosis? Osmosis is the movement or diffusion of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration - Leaving Cert Biology - Question 7 - 2005
Question 7
(a) (i) What is osmosis? Osmosis is the movement or diffusion of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:(a) (i) What is osmosis? Osmosis is the movement or diffusion of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration - Leaving Cert Biology - Question 7 - 2005
Step 1
What is osmosis?
Answer
Osmosis is the process by which water molecules move or diffuse across a selectively permeable membrane. This movement occurs from a region with a lower concentration of solute to one with a higher concentration of solute, thereby attempting to equalize solute concentrations on the two sides of the membrane.
Step 2
Step 3
Draw a labelled diagram of the apparatus that you used to demonstrate osmosis.
Answer
The diagram should depict a beaker filled with distilled water and a piece of Visking tubing stretched across it. The Visking tubing should be labelled as containing a sugar solution, and arrows can be used to indicate the direction of water movement.
Step 4
Describe how you carried out the experiment to demonstrate osmosis.
Answer
To demonstrate osmosis, I first filled a piece of Visking tubing with a sugar solution and secured it tightly. I then submerged this tubing in a beaker filled with distilled water. After allowing sufficient time for the experiment to proceed, I noted the changes in the tubing.
Step 5
How were you able to tell that osmosis had taken place?
Answer
Osmosis was determined by the observation that the tissue or membrane swelled as water moved into the Visking tubing, indicating that water had permeated from the less concentrated solution outside to the more concentrated solution inside.