Use the following scenario to answer the question.

A beaker containing two fluid compartments separated by a semipermeable membrane is filled with distilled water. In compartment A you place 15 mM of NaCl and in compartment B you place 25 mM of NaCl. The membrane is permeable to both sodium and chloride. Initially, which side has the higher osmotic pressure?

As time goes on will the water levels change, and if so how?

Question

Chemistry

Samantha Lyons

16 March, 17:51

Use the following scenario to answer the question.

A beaker containing two fluid compartments separated by a semipermeable membrane is filled with distilled water. In compartment A you place 15 mM of NaCl and in compartment B you place 25 mM of NaCl. The membrane is permeable to both sodium and chloride. Initially, which side has the higher osmotic pressure?

As time goes on will the water levels change, and if so how?

+2

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Kamryn Adams · Answer 1

Initially, compartment B, would have higher osmotic pressure than compartment A. As time goes, the solution would flows from compartment B to compartment A, increasing the level in that compartment A, up to the osmotic pressure is equal at each side of the membrane.

Explanation:

Initially both sides had the same level of water. While there is only distilled water, osmotic pressure is the same at each side of the membrane, and the system is at equilibrium. Osmotic pressure is a property related with the NaCl content in each side of the membrane. In order to occur a flow, a difference of pressure is mandatory, and the flow would be from the higher pressure source to the lower pressure sink. Then as initially there is a higher content of NaCl on compartment B, then this one would have the higher osmotic pressure. Then there would be a flow through the membrane in order to equilibrate pressure, that is why the level on compartment A would increase.