What are the applications of osmotic pressure?

ICSE Class 10 Answered

What are the applications of osmotic pressure?

Asked by saibaba1069 | 01 Apr, 2020, 11:45: PM

Expert Answer

Applications of osmotic pressure:

Transport in plants: The roots of the plants absorb water and from the roots water travel to different parts of plants. Every root acts as a semipermeable barrier, which allows water molecules to transfer from high concentration (soil) to low concentration (roots). Roots have hair, which increases surface area and hence the water intake by the plants.
Survival of the cell: We drink water, but also our cells absorb it by osmosis in the same way that plant roots do. As the concentration of waste products in a cell rises, the osmotic pressure between the inside and outside of the cell wall, which is a semipermeable membrane, increases, and the cell absorbs water from the blood, which is a more dilute solution that of the cell’s cytoplasm. Even the primary nutrients and minerals get transferred through osmosis into the cells. Also, our intestine absorbs nutrients and minerals through osmosis.
Wrinkled fingers: When we sit in the bathtub or submerge our fingers in water for a while they got wrinkly. And that is too because of osmosis. The skin of our fingers absorb water and get expanded or bloated; leading to the pruned or wrinkled fingers.
Killing of snails and slugs: Klling of slugs or snails occurs by putting salt on it. Well, It involves the process of osmosis which kills them. The liquid inside them comes out and try to dilute the salt concentration and maintain the mucus layer, and hence, they end up shedding water. Too much salt and slugs or snails will dry up and die.

Answered by Sheetal Kolte | 02 Apr, 2020, 11:22: AM