Question

Choose the incorrect statement about osmosis from the following.

• A. The rate of osmosis is dependent only on the pressure gradient.
• B. Osmosis occurs spontaneously in response to a driving force.
• C. Osmotic pressure is referred to the applied positive pressure, while the osmotic potential is negative.
• D. Water moves from a region of higher chemical potential to a region of lower chemical potential.

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Osmosis is the term used to refer specifically to the diffusion of water across a differentially- or selectively permeable membrane. Osmosis occurs spontaneously in response to a driving force. The net direction and rate of osmosis depends on both the pressure gradient and concentration gradient. Water will move from its region of higher chemical potential (or concentration) to its region of lower chemical potential until equilibrium is reached. At equilibrium the two chambers should have nearly the same water potential.