A system was prepared by placing equal volumes of pure water and a solution of starch in water in two compartments. A partition separates the two liquids. After 24 hours of incubation at 25°C, the volumes of the two liquids are no longer equal. How can this observation be explained?

A. The partition separating the liquids is impermeable.

B. The partition separating the liquids is permeable.

C. The partition separating the liquids is damaged.

D. The partition separating the liquids is semipermeable.

Question

Humberto Short

Physics

10 November, 16:35

A system was prepared by placing equal volumes of pure water and a solution of starch in water in two compartments. A partition separates the two liquids. After 24 hours of incubation at 25°C, the volumes of the two liquids are no longer equal. How can this observation be explained?

A. The partition separating the liquids is impermeable.

B. The partition separating the liquids is permeable.

C. The partition separating the liquids is damaged.

D. The partition separating the liquids is semipermeable.

+3

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Jeramiah Allen · Answer 1

D. The partition separating the liquids is semipermeable.

Explanation:

In this simple experiment, the volumes of the two liquids were no longer equal after 24 hours because molecules of water have moved from one compartment to another through the partition. This proves that the partition is semipermeable, since the change in volume was noticed after some time.

If it were to be permeable, the difference would have been noticed after a few minutes of incubation. And if it were to be impermeable, the volume of the two liquids would not have changed.

A semipermeable material is one that allows free flow of certain substances through it.