What occurs during osmosis?

During osmosis, solvent molecules, specifically water, move from a region of low solute concentration to a region of high solute concentration. This process occurs across a semipermeable membrane, which allows the passage of solvent molecules while preventing the movement of solute particles. The goal of osmosis is to equalize solute concentrations on both sides of the membrane, ultimately leading to an equilibrium state.

In essence, water moves towards the area where there are more solute particles, as this represents a higher concentration of solute. This movement is driven by the inherent tendency of systems to reach balance in concentration levels, which is a fundamental principle in physical chemistry.

Other options confuse the behavior and directionality of solvent molecules. While some may reference diffusion or evaporation, these processes operate under different principles and do not accurately describe osmosis as it pertains specifically to solvent movement in the context of solute concentration.