Osmosis & Osmolarity: 2. Osmolarity
OSMOLARITY
- Osmolarity (osmotic concentration)
- Measure of solute concentration (osmoles of solute per liter)
Ionic compounds
- Often dissociate in solution (NaCl becomes Na+ and Cl-)
- 2 moles of NaCl therefore become 4 osmoles of solute (2 Na+ and 2 Cl-)
Nonionic compounds
- Don't dissociate in solution
- 2 moles of glucose therefore become 2 osmoles of solute