Reverse osmosis
3. Hypotonic solutions: In the event that the medium encompassing the cell has a higher water concentration than the cell, implying that the outside solution is extremely weaken, the cell will pick up water by osmosis. Such a solution is known as a hypotonic solution. Water particles are allowed to go over the cell layer in both directions, yet more water will come into the cell than will clear out. The net( general) result is that water enters the cell. The cell is prone to swell up.
o
In case of cells with vacuoles o
o
o
Due to this reason people consuming more salty food suffer from water retention in their cell tissues and intercellular spaces resulting in swelling. This is known as edema.
Movement of water from soil to the top of the tree is also due to the phenomenon of osmosis.
Adding salt preserves the food from getting spoilt. Due to osmosis bacterium germinating on the food loses water and shrinks down. This kills the bacteria.
Reverse osmosis
o
o
As the name suggests Reverse Osmosis is just the reverse process of Osmosis. Osmosis can occur naturally whenever there is a difference in concentration between the two solutions. But reverse osmosis takes place only when external energy is applied to the more saline solution.
Application of larger osmotic pressure to the solution side reverses the direction of osmosis.