When assessing the movement of water, which statement is true regarding a membrane that is permeable only to water?

When considering a membrane that is permeable only to water, the principle of osmosis becomes crucial. Water will move through the membrane to achieve osmotic balance between two compartments separated by that membrane. This means that if there is a difference in solute concentration on either side of the membrane, water will move towards the area of higher solute concentration. The aim of this movement is to equalize the osmolarity across the compartments, which reflects the concentration of solute particles in a solution.

This concept is fundamental in physiology, as it explains how water regulates its distribution in the body’s tissues and how it moves in response to solute gradients. Therefore, the statement that water moves to equalize osmolarity across compartments is true because it underscores the osmotic behavior of water in relation to solute concentrations, striving for an equilibrium state.