If a 60% solution (A) were exposed to a 10% solution (B) across a semipermeable membrane, what would be the strength of each solution following equilibrium?

Question

a. Solution A 10%/solution B 60%
b. Solution A 35%/solution B 35%
c. Solution A 50%/solution B 20%
d. Solution A 60%/solution B 10%

Answer 1

ANS: B
Osmotic pressure can also be visualized as an attractive force of solute particles in a concentrated solution. If 100 ml of a 50% solution is placed on one side of a membrane and 100 ml of a 30% solution is placed on the other side, solvent molecules will move from the dilute to the concen-trated side (Figure 13-2, D and E). The particles in the concentrated solution attract solvent mol-ecules from the dilute solution until equilibrium occurs. Equilibrium exists when the concentra-tions (i.e., ratio of solute to solvent) in both compartments are equal (40% in Figure 13-2).