How does reverse osmosis work, exactly?

[thebillsfan]

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Is it in biological systems? If so, is it passive? Is it just a made-up phenomenon?

 

[wanderer]

Is it in biological systems? If so, is it passive? Is it just a made-up phenomenon?

Reverse osmosis is the endergonic flow of water through a semipermeable membrane using external pressure that is greater than osmotic pressure to purify water in terms of osmolarity. So for example if you have a saline solution and you apply pressure to it through a membrane you are using reverse osmosis to purify the water. It requires the input of energy so it can't be passive.