The Effect And Application Of Osmosis In Daily Life

Wilting in Plants

1. Excessive use of fertilisers can cause plants to wilt.
2. Fertilisers will dissolve in the water in the soil and cause the soil water to hypertonic to the cell sap of the plant roots.
3. Water diffuses from the cell sap into the soil by osmosis.
4. The plant cells lose water to the surroundings, causing the cell to be flaccid and plasmolysed.
5. This causes the plant to wilt as there is no support for the plant.

Diagram below shows the wilting of plant due to excessive used of fertilisers.

                      

Preservation of food

1. Food such as fruits, vegetables and fish can be preserved to increase its shelf life by using salt, sugar and vinegar.
2. The food is put in salt/sugar/vinegar solution which is hypertonic to the food cells.
3. Water diffuses from the food cell into the salt/sugar/vinegar solution by osmosis.
4. The lack of water in the food cells prevents the growth of bacteria and fungi, thus preventing spoilage of food.

Diagram below shows the preservation of food