Any physiology guru's out there?

Question

Anatomy and Physiology Question?

If two solutions have different osmolarities are separated by a water-permeable membrane will there be a change in the volume of the two compartments if the membrane is impermeable to solutes?

Will there be a change in the volume of the two compartments if the membrane is permeable to solutes?

Answer 1

If the solutions have different concentrations but only water can get through then water will pass through the membrane and a change of volume will occur until both sides have the same concentration of solutes.

If the solutes can get through as well then nothing much will happen since the solutes will distribute themselves until both sides have the same concentration. (This assumes that the two compartments have the same height of liquid to start with otherwise gravity will cause them to even out in this case.)