Osmotic pressure

Osmotic pressure is the pressure required to stop the flow of water through a semi-permeable membrane that separates two solutions with different concentrations of solute (like salt or sugar). When water moves from a less concentrated solution (more water, less solute) to a more concentrated one (less water, more solute) to balance the concentration, it creates pressure. This concept is important in fields like biology, where it affects how cells maintain their shape and function, and in medical applications, such as intravenous fluids, ensuring proper hydration and nutrient delivery to the body's cells.