Part 2: Osmosis

Question 1

Define osmosis

Answer 1

• A special case of diffusion, including water
• Osmosis is the diffusion of water from an area of higher water potential (i.e., a dilute solution with higher water concentration) to an area lower water potential (i.e., a concentrated solution with a lower water concentration) through a partially permeable membrane

Question 2

We can investigate the properties of partially permeable membranes using Visking tubing
Two experiments were set up:
Experiment 1- the solution inside the Visking tubing was iodine and the solution inside the beaker was starch.
Experiment 2- the solution inside the Visking tubing was starch and the solution inside the beaker is iodine.
State what colours were recorded after 5 minutes.

Answer 2

Experiment 1: The colour of the solution inside the Visking tubing is yellow; the colour of the solution inside the beaker is black
Experiment 2: The colour of the solution inside Visking tubing is black; the colour of the solution inside the beaker is yellow

Question 3

What is the only substance that can undergo osmosis?

Answer 3

Water