Which term describes the movement of water molecules out of a cell due to osmotic pressure?

Which term describes the movement of water molecules out of a cell due to osmotic pressure?

• A. Transpiration
• B. Osmosis
• C. Hydrolysis
• D. Exocytosis

Answer: (A)

The correct term that describes the movement of water molecules out of a cell due to osmotic pressure is osmosis. Osmosis specifically refers to the diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane, moving from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. When osmotic pressure is high inside a cell, water will move out of the cell to balance solute concentrations across the membrane, resulting in dehydration of the cell if not regulated. Transpiration, on the other hand, refers to the process primarily in plants where water vapor is lost from the plant through small openings called stomata, rather than describing the movement of water out of a cell. Hydrolysis involves the chemical breakdown of a compound due to reaction with water, which does not pertain to the movement of water molecules between compartments. Exocytosis is a process by which cells expel materials through vesicles that fuse with the plasma membrane; while it can involve the movement of substances out of cells, it does not specifically refer to the movement of water due to osmotic pressure. Thus, osmosis is the correct answer as it accurately defines the process by which water molecules move out of a cell in response to osmotic gradients.

The correct term that describes the movement of water molecules out of a cell due to osmotic pressure is osmosis. Osmosis specifically refers to the diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane, moving from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. When osmotic pressure is high inside a cell, water will move out of the cell to balance solute concentrations across the membrane, resulting in dehydration of the cell if not regulated.

Transpiration, on the other hand, refers to the process primarily in plants where water vapor is lost from the plant through small openings called stomata, rather than describing the movement of water out of a cell.

Hydrolysis involves the chemical breakdown of a compound due to reaction with water, which does not pertain to the movement of water molecules between compartments.

Exocytosis is a process by which cells expel materials through vesicles that fuse with the plasma membrane; while it can involve the movement of substances out of cells, it does not specifically refer to the movement of water due to osmotic pressure.

Thus, osmosis is the correct answer as it accurately defines the process by which water molecules move out of a cell in response to osmotic gradients.