During osmosis, flow of water through a semipermeable membrane is
- from solution having lower concentration only
- from solution having higher concentration only
- from both sides of semipermeable membrane with equal flow rates
- from both sides of semipermeable membrane with unequal flow rates.
Answer
(4) from both sides of semipermeable membrane with unequal flow rates.
Solution
Water molecules pass through the semipermeable membrane in both directions. The side with the lower solute concentration (higher concentration of water) sends more water molecules per unit time than the other side.
⇒ The two flow rates are unequal, so there is a net flow of solvent from the dilute solution (or pure solvent) to the concentrated solution.
As per NCERT, this net flow of solvent from the solvent side to the solution side through a semipermeable membrane is osmosis; it stops when the flow rates become equal (on applying the osmotic pressure).
Answer: (4)