Molarity (M) is a measure of the concentration of a solute in a solution, expressed as moles of solute per liter of solution. It is commonly used to quantify the concentration of substances in biological and chemical processes.
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Molarity helps determine osmotic pressure, which affects water movement across cell membranes.
High molarity solutions can draw water out of cells, leading to cell shrinkage.
Low molarity solutions can cause water influx into cells, potentially causing them to burst.
In kidney function, maintaining proper molarity in blood and urine is crucial for osmoregulation.
Calculating molarity involves dividing the number of moles of solute by the volume of the solution in liters.
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Related terms
Osmosis: The movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.
Solute: A substance that is dissolved in a solvent to form a solution.