Osmosis

The key idea

Osmosis is solvent transport through a selectively permeable membrane driven by differences in chemical potential; introductory treatments often express it through osmotic pressure.

Why it matters

It matters in cells, desalination, food science and solution chemistry, and is more precise than the vague idea that 'water simply moves toward salt'.

A picture to remember

It matters in cells, desalination, food science and solution chemistry, and is more precise than the vague idea that 'water simply moves toward salt'.