Osmotic Pressure Formula:
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Definition: Osmotic pressure is the minimum pressure which needs to be applied to a solution to prevent the inward flow of its pure solvent across a semipermeable membrane.
Purpose: This calculator determines the osmotic pressure for non-electrolyte solutions using the van't Hoff equation.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The osmotic pressure is directly proportional to the molar concentration of the solute and the absolute temperature.
Details: Understanding osmotic pressure is crucial in biological systems, water purification, industrial processes, and medical applications like dialysis.
Tips: Enter the molar concentration in mol/L and temperature in Kelvin. The default temperature is 298K (25°C). All values must be > 0.
Q1: What is the universal gas constant [R]?
A: It's a physical constant that appears in the equation of state for ideal gases (8.314 J/mol·K).
Q2: Why must temperature be in Kelvin?
A: The Kelvin scale is an absolute temperature scale required for thermodynamic calculations.
Q3: Does this work for electrolyte solutions?
A: No, this calculator is for non-electrolytes. Electrolytes require an additional van't Hoff factor.
Q4: How do I convert Celsius to Kelvin?
A: Simply add 273.15 to the Celsius temperature (e.g., 25°C = 298.15K).
Q5: What are typical osmotic pressure values?
A: Biological fluids are typically 7-8 atm (700,000-800,000 Pa), while seawater is about 30 atm.