the beaker shown here has a membrane that separates two solutions. water can pass through the membrane, but starch cannot pass through it. how will the fluid levels change over? explain your prediction

When two solutions are separated by the membrane through which water can pass but starch cannot, the osmosis will occur.

Osmosis is described as the spontaneous movement of water through membrane from a region of lower solute concentration into a region of higher solute concentration. Water movement tends to equalize the solute concentrations on the two sides.

Water will move from its region of high concentration towards the starch

Explanation:

As given in the problem statement, water can pass through the membrane but starch cannot pass through it. Thus, water will start permeating through the permeable membrane governed by the concept of osmosis where fluid at higher concentration starts moving towards the low concentration chamber.

Thus, water being at higher concentration on one side starts moving from its side to the side of starch and hence the starch solution level will rise while the level of water will lower down.