Solute movement during dialysis involves molecules transitioning from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration. This process is driven by diffusion, a natural phenomenon where particles spread out evenly in a solution.
In the context of dialysis, solutes move from the mixture inside the dialyzing bag (where they are in higher concentration) to the surrounding distilled water (where they are in lower concentration). This movement continues until equilibrium is reached.
For example:
- In NaCl solution, sodium and chloride ions move through the membrane because they are small.
- In a mixture of starch solution and alanine, only alanine, being small, will diffuse through the membrane, not starch.
The key to understanding solute movement in dialysis is recognizing that only solutes small enough to pass through the membrane can migrate to areas of lower concentration.