Which process is used in water purification?
A. Osmosis
B. Reverse Osmosis
C. Cytolysis
D. Turgor pressure

Question

Question

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NTPC Tier I (Held On: 28 Apr 2016 Shift 3)

Answer 1

The correct answer is B.

The reverse Osmosis process is used in water purification.
Water purification is the process by which undesired chemical compounds, organic and inorganic materials, and biological contaminants are removed from the water.
The purification procedure reduces the concentration of contaminants such as suspended particles, parasites, bacteria, algae, viruses, and fungi.

Key Points

Reverse Osmosis is a technology that is used to remove a large majority of contaminants from water by pushing the water under pressure through a semi-permeable membrane.
Reverse Osmosis is the process of Osmosis in reverse. Whereas Osmosis occurs naturally without the energy required, to reverse the process of osmosis you need to apply energy to the more saline solution.

Additional Information

Process	Details
Osmosis	Osmosis is a naturally occurring phenomenon and one of the most important processes in nature. It is a process where a weaker saline solution will tend to migrate to a strong saline solution.
Cytolysis	Cytolysis, or osmotic lysis, occurs when a cell bursts due to an osmotic imbalance that has caused excess water to diffuse into the cell. Water can enter the cell by diffusion through the cell membrane or through selective membrane channels called aquaporins, which greatly facilitate the flow of water
Turgor pressure	Turgor pressure is the force within the cell that pushes the plasma membrane against the cell wall. It is also called hydrostatic pressure and defined as the pressure measured by a fluid, measured at a certain point within itself when at equilibrium.