Read the following statements and select the correct option.
(i) Pure water has the highest water potential, i.e., zero.
(ii) Process of diffusion does not require any input of energy.
(iii) Water moves from the system containing water at higher water potential to the one having lower water potential.

Options

A. Statements (i) and (ii) are correct
B. Statements (ii) and (iii) are correct
C. Statements (i) and (iii) are correct
D. Statements (i), (ii) and (iii) are correct

Answer

D

Explanation

The free energy of water is referred to as water potential. Water potential is also defined as the chemical potential of water. The greater the concentrations of water in a system, the greater is its kinetic energy or .water potential.. The water potential of pure water at standard temperature and pressure is considered to be zero (0). If a certain amount of solute is dissolved in pure water, the solution will have less concentration of water molecules.
As a result, its water potential decreases. Hence, all solutions have water potential less than pure water. This magnitude of lowering of water potential due to dissolution of a solute is called solute potential, which is always negative.
Diffusion, a type of passive transport, is a process in which particles move from their higher to lower concentration. Since it is passive transport, energy expenditure does not take place.
Osmosis is a process of movement of a solvent across a semipermeable membrane, from lower DPD to higher DPD or from its higher water potential to lower water potential.