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What are the differences between molarity and osmolarity?
Posted May 31, 2024
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Basis of differentiation |
Molarity |
Osmolarity |
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Definition |
The concentration of a solute in a solution, expressed as the number of moles of solute per liter of solution |
The concentration of all osmotically active particles in a solution, expressed as the number of osmoles (or milliosmoles) of solute per liter of solution |
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Units |
mol/L (molar) |
osmol/L (osmolar) or mOsmol/L (milliosmolar) |
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Dilution factor |
Molarity changes upon dilution but the total number of moles of solute remains constant |
Diluting a solution involves adding more solvent, which increases the total volume and decreases the concentration, while the amount of solute remains constant |
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Components |
Involves only the number of moles of solute present |
Involves all particles that contribute to osmotic pressure, including ions and molecules |