Question

explain why the rate of the diffusion of water (osmosis) can change under different conditions:

Water will diffuse ____________________________________

when__________________________________________________

because_______________________________________________ .

Answer 1

The movement of water depends upon the water potential of the sample.
Osmosis = Movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane

Water moves from a region of high water potential to a region of low water potential.
Water moves from a region of low solute concentration to a region of high solute concentration.
Water moves from hypertonic solution to hypotonic solution.

Water will diffuse from a region of high water potential to a region of low water potential

when both solutions exhibit a water potential gradient and are separted by a semi-permeable membrane

because water movement occurs along the water potential gradient.