Can osmosis occur without a semi-permeable membrane?

No, osmosis cannot occur without a semi-permeable membrane.

Osmosis is a specific type of diffusion that involves the movement of water molecules from an area of higher water concentration to an area of lower water concentration. This process is fundamental to many biological processes and is crucial for the survival of many organisms. However, for osmosis to occur, a semi-permeable membrane is required.

A semi-permeable membrane is a barrier that allows certain substances to pass through while blocking others. In the case of osmosis, the membrane allows water molecules to pass through but prevents the passage of solute particles. This selective permeability is what drives the process of osmosis. Without a semi-permeable membrane, there would be no barrier to prevent the solute particles from moving, and thus no osmosis would occur.

The semi-permeable membrane is not just a physical barrier, but also a functional one. It is designed to allow water molecules to pass through due to their small size and polar nature, while larger, non-polar solute particles are blocked. This selective permeability is a result of the specific properties of the membrane, including its composition and structure.

In conclusion, a semi-permeable membrane is essential for osmosis to occur. Without it, there would be no selective barrier to drive the movement of water molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. Therefore, osmosis cannot occur without a semi-permeable membrane.