Question

Describe the mechanism of osmosis. Give its importance.

Answer 1

Osmosis is a special type of diffusion. Osmosis is diffusion of water from the region of its higher concentration (pure water or dilute solution or region of lower solute concentration) to the region of its lower concentration (strong solution or region of higher solute concentration) though a semipermeable membrane.

There are two types of osmosis:

(i) Endosmosis: It is the process by which water molecules enter into the cell.

(ii) Exosmosis: It is the process by which water molecules move out of the cell.

Importance of osmosis:

(i) Root hair absorb water from the surrounding soil using the process of osmosis.

(ii) Absorption of water by alimentary canal.

(iii) Absorption of water by unicellular freshwater animals.

(iv)Osmosis is a vital process in biological systems, as biological membranes are semipermeable.