When one does not involve osmosis

Options

A. Water passing from one xylem element to the other above it
B. Water passing from soil to root hair
C. Water passing into mesophyll cell from xylem
D. Water passing from root hair cell to cortical cell

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understand Osmosis**: Osmosis is the movement of water or a solvent from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration through a selectively permeable membrane. It is crucial to identify processes that do not involve this mechanism.

2. **Evaluate the Options**: The question provides several options regarding the movement of water in plants. We need to analyze each option to determine if osmosis is involved.

3. **Option 1 - Water Passing from One Xylem Element to Another**: This process occurs due to transpiration pull. Transpiration is the loss of water vapor from the aerial parts of the plant, creating a negative pressure that pulls water upward through the xylem. Since this process does not involve the movement of water from high to low concentration through a membrane, osmosis is not involved here.

4. **Option 2 - Water Passing from Soil to Root Hair**: This process involves osmosis. Water moves from the soil (high concentration of water) into the root hair cells (lower concentration of water). Therefore, this option does involve osmosis.

5. **Option 3 - Water Passing into Mesophyll Cell from Xylem**: Here, water moves from the xylem (high concentration) into the mesophyll cells (lower concentration). This movement is also due to osmosis, as it involves the movement of water from an area of higher concentration to lower concentration.

6. **Option 4 - Water Passing from Root Hair Cell to Cortical Cell**: In this case, water moves from the root hair cells (higher concentration of water) to the cortical cells (lower concentration). This process also involves osmosis.

7. **Conclusion**: After evaluating all options, the only process that does not involve osmosis is **Option 1 - Water Passing from One Xylem Element to Another**.

**Final Answer**: Option 1

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