According to the material, water will move to which area in osmosis?

• A. Water moves toward higher solute concentration
• B. Water moves toward lower solvent concentration
• C. Water cannot cross the membrane
• D. Water will move to area of greater solvent concentration

Answer: (D)

Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane driven by differences in solute concentration. Water tends to move from where there is less dissolved solute (higher water concentration) to where there is more dissolved solute (lower water concentration) because this flow lowers the overall difference in solute concentration on the two sides.

In practical terms, the direction is toward the side with greater solute concentration, since adding solute lowers the water potential on that side and draws water across to balance things. The idea of water moving toward an area of greater solvent concentration would imply moving toward more water on that side, which is not what drives osmotic flow. So the standard rule to remember is: water moves toward higher solute concentration (lower water concentration on the side it enters).