Semipermeable membranes

Definition

Semipermeable membranes are barriers that allow certain molecules or ions to pass through while blocking others. They are crucial in processes like osmosis and dialysis.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Semipermeable membranes selectively allow the passage of solvent molecules but not solute molecules.
2. In osmosis, water moves through a semipermeable membrane from a region of low solute concentration to high solute concentration.
3. Dialysis involves the use of semipermeable membranes to separate small molecules from larger ones in a solution.
4. The effectiveness of a semipermeable membrane can be influenced by factors like pore size and charge.
5. Semipermeable membranes play a key role in biological systems, such as cell membranes regulating nutrient and waste exchange.

Review Questions

Related terms

Osmosis:

The movement of water through a semipermeable membrane from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration.

Dialysis:

A process that uses semipermeable membranes to separate small molecules from larger ones in a solution.

Colligative Properties:

Properties of solutions that depend on the number of solute particles but not their identity, such as boiling point elevation and freezing point depression.