Question

Two semipermeable bags containing 2% sucrose are placed in two beakers, ‘P’ containing water and ‘Q’ containing 10% sucrose. Which one of the following outcomes is true?

(a) Bag in ‘P’ becomes flaccid due to exosmosis

(b) Bag in ‘P’ becomes turgid due to endosmosis

(c) Bag in ‘Q’ becomes turgid due to endosmosis

(d) Concentration of sucrose remains unchanged in both

Answer 1

Answer is : (b) Bag in ‘P’ becomes turgid due to endosmosis

Osmosis is the net movement of solvent molecules into a region of higher solute concentration through a semipermeable membrane. In the given question, one of the 2 sucrose containing bags (semipermeable) is placed in a water containing beaker. Clearly, the concentration in the bag is more than the beaker and as a result, water will move through the semipermeable membrane (endosmosis) and make the bag turgid. On the other hand, the second beaker contains 10% sucrose solution which is more concentrated than the semipermeable bag’s sucrose concentration. Hence, water will move out of the bag to the beaker and make the bag flaccid (exosmosis).

Thus, the answer (b) is correct.