Semipermeable and Selectively Permeable Membranes

The upcoming discussion will update you about the differences between Semipermeable Membrane and Selectively Permeable Membranes.

Difference # Semipermeable Membranes:

1. It does not allow passage of solutes through it.

2. It forms a perfect partition between two osmotically active solutions or between a solution and its pure solvent.

3. It allows entry of only solvent.

4. It is not found in biological world, e.g.. collodion, cellophane.

5. Semipermeable, membrane is used: in dialysis, maintenance of turgidity and measurement of osmotic potential.

Difference # Selectively Permeable Membranes:

1. If allows passage of some selected solutes to a limited extent.

2. The partition is imperfect because of which even plasmolysed protoplasts get deplasmolysed automatically even when kept in the same hypertonic solution.

3. It allows entry of both solvent and to a selected extent solutes.

4. Almost all biological membranes are selectively permeable.

5. Selectively permeable membrane is useful in maintaining turgidity while retaining the ability to absorb solutes.