A balloon allows water but not sugar to pass through it. The balloon contains a 10% sugar solution. A beaker contains a 5% sugar solution.

Question

Which statement is true?
A. When placed in the beaker, the balloon will gain water by osmosis.
B. When placed in the beaker, the balloon will lose water by osmosis.
C. When placed in the beaker, the balloon will gain water by active transport.
D. When placed in the beaker, the balloon will lose water by active transport.

Answer 1

 

Osmosis is defined as a process by which molecules of a solvent tend to pass through a semipermeable membrane from a less concentrated solution into a more concentrated one, thus equalizing the concentrations on each side of the membrane.

 

In other words, water will go to where there are more particles. 10% in the balloon vs 5% in the beaker means water will go to the 10%

 

Therefore the answer will be A or C

 

Active transport means movement of molecules using energy while osmosis is passive. The question says water simply passes through the balloon so this is passive.

 

Therefore the answer will be A