Question

Consider the following statements and select the correct one :
Statement (A) : Pure water has maximum water potential.
Statement (B) : The osmotic potential is zero in pure water.

• A. Both the statements are correct and (B) is not the reason for (A)
• B. Both the statements are wrong
• C. Both the statements are correct and (B) is the reason for (A)
• D. Statement a is correct while statement (B) is wrong

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Water potential is the potential energy of water relative to pure water in reference conditions. Pure water has maximum water potential, whereas, addition of solutes to water lowers the water potential. Osmosis is a special type of diffusion in which water diffuses from its pure state i.e., higher water potential to concentrated solution i.e., lower chemical potential through a semipermeable membrane. Since pure water has no difference in chemical potential, it has zero osmotic potential