Multiple Choice
Which product is an example of an isotonic solution (approximately the same solute concentration as human blood plasma)?
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14. Solutions
Osmosis
Multiple Choice
In osmosis, which property of water is most directly responsible for reducing edema by drawing water out of swollen tissues when a hypertonic solution is applied?
A
Water is incompressible, so it physically forces fluid out of tissues under pressure.
B
Water moves across a semipermeable membrane from lower solute concentration to higher solute concentration due to osmotic pressure.
C
Water has low surface tension, so it spreads easily and drains fluid from tissues.
D
Water has a high specific heat capacity, so it absorbs heat and reduces swelling.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.
Recognize that when a hypertonic solution (higher solute concentration than the tissue fluid) is applied, water moves out of the swollen tissues to balance the solute concentrations on both sides of the membrane.
Identify that this movement of water is driven by osmotic pressure, which is the pressure required to stop the flow of water through the membrane due to solute concentration differences.
Note that other properties of water, such as incompressibility, surface tension, or specific heat capacity, do not directly cause water to move out of tissues in osmosis.
Conclude that the key property responsible for reducing edema by drawing water out of tissues is water's ability to move across a semipermeable membrane from lower to higher solute concentration due to osmotic pressure.
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