Select the correct statement about osmosis.

Question

Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane.
If a dead cell is placed in a solution hypotonic to the cell contents, osmosis will not occur.
Osmotic equilibrium cannot be reached unless solute concentrations equalize across the membrane.

Answer 1

The correct statement about osmosis is:

Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane.

The other two statements are incorrect. Osmosis can occur regardless of whether the cell is alive or dead, and osmotic equilibrium can be reached without equal solute concentrations, as it is the movement of water that balances the osmotic pressures on both sides of the membrane.