During dialysis through a semipermeable membrane experiment, starch and salt were left inside the dialysis bag. Would the concentration of salt and starch change?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Yes they would reach equilibrium  due to osmosis .

anonymous · Answer

It depends on what was on the outside of the membrane. If the bag was placed in distiled water, then the typical pore size of a membrane is too small to allow starch to pass through but will allow sodium and chlorine ions to pass through as well as water.  So, water would move in and some salt would move out.  The salt concentration could eventually reach equilibrium, but, because of the starch and the limit of the size of the bag it is doubtful that the water could reach equilibrium.  By mass, the bag probably gains mass because the water keeps moving in.