WATER POTENTIAL

• • The concentration of free water molecules is heavily influenced by solute concentration.
  • This leads to the concept of water potential.
• • The unit for water potential is the kilopascal, kPa.
• • Pure water has a water potential of 0 kPa.
• Adding solute to water makes the water potential lower: it becomes negative e.g. -20 kPa.
• • The higher the solute concentration, the lower (more negative) the water potential.