Question

The water potential and osmotic potential of pure water is respectively

• A. 100 and 0
• B. 0 and 0
• C. 100 and 200
• D. 0 and 100

Answer 1

The correct option is B 0 and 0

Water potential is the chemical potential of water, which depends on the number of water molecules in the solution. More the number of water molecules in the solution more the water potential.

By convention, water potential of pure water is assumed to be zero, so that water potential of all solutions is negative. The osmotic potential is the potential due to dissolved solutes.

More the number of dissolved solute particles, more the osmotic potential. In pure water the number of dissolved solute particles is zero, hence the osmotic potential is zero.