Osmosis - definition
Osmosis - definition
Osmosis is a physicochemical phenomenon involving the spontaneous, directional flow of a solvent - usually water - across a semi-permeable membrane separating two solutions of different concentrations of solute. The semi-permeable membrane allows the free transport of solvent molecules, but blocks the passage of most of the solute molecules, leading to an equalisation of chemical potentials between the two sides of the system. The direction of osmosis always leads from a less concentrated (hypotonic) solution towards a more concentrated (hypertonic) solution, increasing its volume and diluting its concentration.
The phenomenon of osmosis is crucial in cell biology, where it regulates the water balance of organisms and maintains homeostasis. Osmotic equilibrium affects the shape, tension and function of plant and animal cells, especially in relation to turgor pressure. From the point of view of thermodynamics, osmosis occurs to minimise the free energy of the system.
In chemical engineering and membrane technology, osmosis is used, among other things, in water filtration and purification processes such as reverse osmosis, in which an applied external pressure opposes the natural flow, allowing pure solvent to be obtained from highly contaminated solutions. Osmotic processes are also used in the food, pharmaceutical and energy industries, where precise control of membrane permeability and osmotic pressure gradients is critical to technological efficiency.
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