Question

refer to the illustration. in which direction are water molecules in this system most likely to diffuse? concentration of water and solutes in four adjacent cells water: low solutes: low water: low solutes: high water: high solutes: low water: high solutes: high from 1 to 2 from 4 to 3 from 2 to 4 from 3 to 1

Explanation:

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from an area of high water concentration (low solute concentration) to an area of low water concentration (high solute concentration) across a semi - permeable membrane.

• For option "from 1 to 2": Cell 1 has low water and low solutes, cell 2 has low water and high solutes. Water won't move from 1 to 2 as water concentration in 1 is not higher.
• For option "from 4 to 3": Cell 4 has high water and high solutes, cell 3 has high water and low solutes. Water won't move from 4 to 3 as water concentration in 4 is not higher than in 3.
• For option "from 2 to 4": Cell 2 has low water and high solutes, cell 4 has high water and high solutes. Water won't move from 2 to 4 as water concentration in 2 is lower.
• For option "from 3 to 1": Cell 3 has high water (low solutes) and cell 1 has low water (low solutes). Since water moves from high to low water concentration, water will move from 3 (high water) to 1 (low water).

Answer:

from 3 to 1