Question

6. A student put together the experimental setup shown below. The selectively permeable membrane is permeable to water, but not the solute shown.

Over time, what will happen in this system? (1 point)
No change will take place.
Water will move from left to right.
Water will move from right to left.
Solute will move from right to left.

Answer 1

Here, let me help you by telling you a certain fact:

Water tends to move over to the side where there is less water.

For example,
if there's less water on the RIGHT side,
then the water will tend to move from left, to RIGHT.

I'm looking at your picture,
and it looks as though the water level is equal, on both sides.

So, what'll probably happen is that the water will keep moving in BOTH directions,
but there won't be any change.

Do you get that?

Answer 2

I disagree - the picture shows more solute molecules on the right, so water will move to this side by osmosis. I think it is to do with entropy and the tendency for systems to move to equilibrium if there is an increase in entropy (less organisation). Anyway, if you have a look at this site it'll explain what I'm getting at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osmosis

Answer 3

You know what? I think you're right.

I'm sorry ky.king.
I didn't pay enough attention to the solute molecules in the picture.