semipermeable
Definition
- Adjective:
- Allowing certain substances to pass through while blocking others: Describes a material, typically a membrane, that is partially permeable. It permits the passage of some molecules or ions but restricts others based on size, charge, or other properties.
Usage
- The term semipermeable is primarily used in scientific contexts, especially in biology, chemistry, and physics. It describes the key property of membranes in processes like osmosis and dialysis.
- It is almost always used attributively (before a noun) to describe a membrane or barrier.
- Example:
Examples
- In Biology:
- Cell membranes are semipermeable, allowing water and nutrients to enter while keeping harmful substances out.
- In Chemistry/Physics:
- The experiment used a semipermeable barrier to separate the solute from the solvent.
Advanced Usage
- Technical Context: In engineering, particularly for water purification, "semipermeable" describes the membranes used in reverse osmosis systems.
- Reverse osmosis relies on a high-pressure pump and a semipermeable membrane to produce clean water.
Variants and Related Words
- Permeable (adj): Allowing liquids or gases to pass through.
- Impermeable (adj): Not allowing fluid to pass through.
- Selectively Permeable (adj): A synonym often used interchangeably with "semipermeable" in biology, emphasizing the selective nature of the barrier.
Synonyms
- Selectively permeable
- Partially permeable
- Differentially permeable (less common)
Antonyms
- Impermeable
- Nonporous
Related Phrases/Compounds
- Semipermeable membrane (n): The most common compound, referring to the specific barrier itself.
- Osmosis occurs across a semipermeable membrane.
Adjective
-
(of a membrane) selectively permeable
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