osmosis
left: The concentration of sugar molecules is greater on the right side of the membrane than on the left. The water molecules are small enough to move across the membrane, but the larger sugar molecules cannot pass through.
right: The water molecules move across the membrane until the water and sugar molecules are of equal concentration on both sides. This lowers the water level on the left side and raises it on the right side.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Learn more about osmosis