Question

Two chambers, A and B, containing solutions are separated by a semipermeable membrane.

(d) Which solution has a higher solute potential?

Answer 1

1) Solute potential is also termed as osmotic potential which is the pressure that has to be applied to solution so that the inward flow of the water is prevented across a semipermeable membrane.

2) The water potential of pure water is 0 at standard conditions of temperature and pressure. As the number of solute molecules increases, the drop in magnitude of water potential is more and hence, solute potential decreases. If a solution has less number of solute molecules, its solute potential will be less negative and thus higher than that of a solution with higher solute concentration. Since, chamber A has lesser solute molecules, thus it will have more solute potential than chamber B.