Biology/osmosis
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Question
Does osmosis require a differentially prmeablemembrance and a concentration gradient for water?
Thanks for using AllExperts, Andrew. Osmosis requires both a difference in concentration of solute at two different points in a solution and a differentially permeable membrane between those points. That's equivalent to saying that for osmosis to occur, water must have a concentration gradient and a partially permeable membrane. As you probably know, the concentration gradient of water is arranged opposite to that of solute: a high concentration of water means a low concentration of solute and vice versa.
Water flows up the solute concentration gradient (i.e., water goes from areas of lesser solute to greater solute), while the solute itself can't pass through the membrane. This continues until the concentrations of water and solute equalize on both sides of the membrane.
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John Locke
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