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 .
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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
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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 .