Osmotic pressure refers to the minimum pressure which needs to be applied to a solution to prevent the inward flow of its pure solvent across a semipermeable membrane.
It is defined as the tendency of a solution to take in pure solvent by osmosis.
Osmosis process occurs when two solutions containing different concentrations of solute are separated by a selectively permeable membrane.
Solvent molecules pass through the membrane from the low-concentration solution to the solution with higher solute concentration, and transfer of solvent molecules continue until equilibrium is attained.
Osmotic pressure is an important factor that affects cells.
Hypertonicity is the presence of a solution causes cells to shrink.
Hypotonicity is the presence of a solution that causes cells to swell.
Isotonicity occurs in the presence of a solution that produces no change in cell volume.
Cells in a hypotonic environment, accumulate water, as water flows across the cell membrane into the cell, causing it to expand.
Osmotic pressure is the basis of filtering process commonly used in water purification.