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Adding solutes to an aqueous system has what effect on its water potential?
AIt raises water potential by adding energy
BIt lowers water potential by tying up energy
CIt leaves water potential entirely unchanged
DIt lowers water potential by adding pressure
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. It lowers water potential by tying up energy
1. Water molecules bind to dissolved solutes through hydrogen bonds.
2. Energy tied up in those bonds is no longer available to do work in the system.
3. So the amount of available potential energy is reduced when solutes are added.
4. Solute potential therefore falls as solute concentration rises, and total water potential falls with it.
5. Pressure is a separate component of water potential, so attributing the drop to added pressure names the wrong term.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 30 "Plant Form and Physiology", section 30.5 Transport of Water and Solutes in Plants_
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