Reverse osmosis

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/reverse-osmosis

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is reverse osmosis and how does it clean water?Reverse osmosis uses a special membrane and extra pressure to push water through tiny holes, leaving dirt and germs behind.
2. Why do we need reverse osmosis for drinking water?It turns salty or dirty water into clean, drinkable water, especially where fresh water is hard to find.

Osmotic pressure: The thermodynamic driving force for osmosis, representing the pressure needed to prevent solvent flow across a semipermeable membrane.
Flux: The rate of fluid flow per unit area of membrane, indicating the membrane's permeability.
Fouling: The undesirable accumulation of substances on the membrane surface, impeding water flow and reducing separation efficiency.