When solute is mixed in solution , the water potential of the solution

Options

A. Increase
B. Decreases
C. First increase and the decreases
D. No change occurs

Answer

To solve the question regarding the effect of mixing a solute in a solution on the water potential, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Water Potential**:
- Water potential (Ψ) is a measure of the potential energy of water in a system and determines the direction of water movement. It is influenced by solute concentration and pressure.

2. **Effect of Solute on Water Potential**:
- When a solute is added to a solution, it increases the solute concentration. This means that there are more solute particles in the solution.

3. **Free Water Molecules**:
- The addition of solute decreases the number of free water molecules available in the solution. This is because some water molecules are now interacting with the solute particles.

4. **Kinetic Energy and Water Potential**:
- Water molecules possess kinetic energy, and the more free water molecules present, the higher the kinetic energy. If the number of free water molecules decreases, the overall kinetic energy of the water molecules also decreases.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Since the water potential is directly related to the concentration of free water molecules, a decrease in free water molecules leads to a decrease in water potential. Therefore, when a solute is mixed into a solution, the water potential of that solution decreases.

### Final Answer:
The water potential of the solution decreases when solute is mixed in.