Osmosis

• Osmosis is the movement of water molecules through a semi-permeable membrane, from high to low concentrations until equilibrium is reached.

1.  Water potential - This is the measure of the diffusion tendency of water. It is the ability of water to release water molecules to another solution (pure water has the HIGHEST water potential).  The symbol for water potential is ψ

2.  Solution - a combination of the solvent and solutes

3.  Solvent - this is the water

4.  Solutes - these are any substances that are dissolved in the water eg. salts/sugar etc.

The HIGHER the number of solutes in a solution, the LOWER the water potential of that solution.  (And vice versa)