Osmotic Pressure of Solutions of Electrolytes
Environmental Engineering · FE Reference Handbook section
Core formulas for this FE topic
Definitions, applicability, units, assumptions and worked examples for each relation.
Worked exam-style examples
The four ways this section is written on the real exam — thoughts first, then equations, then substitution.
osmotic pressure of solutions of electrolytes for a saline feedwater Given number of ions per molecule (Phi) = 3.0000; molar concentration (M) = 0.3800 mol/L; gas constant (R) = 0.0821 L*atm/mol/K; absolute temperature (T) = 281.0 K, determine the osmotic pressure (pi) in atm.
Given
Find
osmotic pressure (pi), in atm
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Osmotic Pressure of Solutions of Electrolytes.
- Everything except pi is given, so isolate pi symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Osmotic pressure of solutions of electrolytes determines the driving pressure that must be overcome in reverse osmosis membranes.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for pi:
Step 3 — List the givens: number of ions per molecule (Phi) = 3.0000, molar concentration (M) = 0.3800 mol/L, gas constant (R) = 0.0821 L*atm/mol/K, absolute temperature (T) = 281.0 K.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning pi = 26.2999 atm to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 52.5998 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 13.1500 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 28.9299 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Osmotic Pressure of Electrolyte Solutions
osmotic pressure calculation for an electrolyte solution in RO design Given number of ions per molecule (Phi) = 2.0000; gas constant (R) = 0.0821 L*atm/mol/K; absolute temperature (T) = 300.0 K; osmotic pressure (pi) = 57.4800 atm, determine the molar concentration (M) in mol/L.
Given
Find
molar concentration (M), in mol/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Osmotic Pressure of Solutions of Electrolytes.
- Everything except M is given, so isolate M symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Osmotic pressure of solutions of electrolytes determines the driving pressure that must be overcome in reverse osmosis membranes.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for M:
Step 3 — List the givens: number of ions per molecule (Phi) = 2.0000, gas constant (R) = 0.0821 L*atm/mol/K, absolute temperature (T) = 300.0 K, osmotic pressure (pi) = 57.4800 atm.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning M = 1.1669 mol/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 2.3337 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 0.5834 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 1.2836 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Osmotic Pressure of Electrolyte Solutions
osmotic pressure of an electrolyte feed to a membrane system Given number of ions per molecule (Phi) = 3.0000; molar concentration (M) = 0.4310 mol/L; gas constant (R) = 0.0821 L*atm/mol/K; osmotic pressure (pi) = 41.0200 atm, determine the absolute temperature (T) in K.
Given
Find
absolute temperature (T), in K
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Osmotic Pressure of Solutions of Electrolytes.
- Everything except T is given, so isolate T symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Osmotic pressure of solutions of electrolytes determines the driving pressure that must be overcome in reverse osmosis membranes.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for T:
Step 3 — List the givens: number of ions per molecule (Phi) = 3.0000, molar concentration (M) = 0.4310 mol/L, gas constant (R) = 0.0821 L*atm/mol/K, osmotic pressure (pi) = 41.0200 atm.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning T = 386.4 K to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 772.8 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 193.2 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 425.1 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Osmotic Pressure of Electrolyte Solutions
osmotic pressure of solutions of electrolytes for a saline feedwater Given number of ions per molecule (Phi) = 4.0000; molar concentration (M) = 0.0950 mol/L; gas constant (R) = 0.0821 L*atm/mol/K; absolute temperature (T) = 286.0 K, determine the osmotic pressure (pi) in atm.
Given
Find
osmotic pressure (pi), in atm
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Osmotic Pressure of Solutions of Electrolytes.
- Everything except pi is given, so isolate pi symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Osmotic pressure of solutions of electrolytes determines the driving pressure that must be overcome in reverse osmosis membranes.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for pi:
Step 3 — List the givens: number of ions per molecule (Phi) = 4.0000, molar concentration (M) = 0.0950 mol/L, gas constant (R) = 0.0821 L*atm/mol/K, absolute temperature (T) = 286.0 K.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning pi = 8.9226 atm to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 17.8453 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 4.4613 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 9.8149 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Osmotic Pressure of Electrolyte Solutions
osmotic pressure calculation for an electrolyte solution in RO design Given number of ions per molecule (Phi) = 3.0000; gas constant (R) = 0.0821 L*atm/mol/K; absolute temperature (T) = 278.0 K; osmotic pressure (pi) = 25.2200 atm, determine the molar concentration (M) in mol/L.
Given
Find
molar concentration (M), in mol/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Osmotic Pressure of Solutions of Electrolytes.
- Everything except M is given, so isolate M symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Osmotic pressure of solutions of electrolytes determines the driving pressure that must be overcome in reverse osmosis membranes.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for M:
Step 3 — List the givens: number of ions per molecule (Phi) = 3.0000, gas constant (R) = 0.0821 L*atm/mol/K, absolute temperature (T) = 278.0 K, osmotic pressure (pi) = 25.2200 atm.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning M = 0.3683 mol/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 0.7367 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 0.1842 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 0.4052 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Osmotic Pressure of Electrolyte Solutions
osmotic pressure of an electrolyte feed to a membrane system Given number of ions per molecule (Phi) = 1.0000; molar concentration (M) = 0.3890 mol/L; gas constant (R) = 0.0821 L*atm/mol/K; osmotic pressure (pi) = 30.0300 atm, determine the absolute temperature (T) in K.
Given
Find
absolute temperature (T), in K
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Osmotic Pressure of Solutions of Electrolytes.
- Everything except T is given, so isolate T symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Osmotic pressure of solutions of electrolytes determines the driving pressure that must be overcome in reverse osmosis membranes.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for T:
Step 3 — List the givens: number of ions per molecule (Phi) = 1.0000, molar concentration (M) = 0.3890 mol/L, gas constant (R) = 0.0821 L*atm/mol/K, osmotic pressure (pi) = 30.0300 atm.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning T = 940.3 K to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 1,881 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 470.1 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 1,034 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Osmotic Pressure of Electrolyte Solutions
osmotic pressure of solutions of electrolytes for a saline feedwater Given number of ions per molecule (Phi) = 2.0000; molar concentration (M) = 0.1530 mol/L; gas constant (R) = 0.0821 L*atm/mol/K; absolute temperature (T) = 274.0 K, determine the osmotic pressure (pi) in atm.
Given
Find
osmotic pressure (pi), in atm
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Osmotic Pressure of Solutions of Electrolytes.
- Everything except pi is given, so isolate pi symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Osmotic pressure of solutions of electrolytes determines the driving pressure that must be overcome in reverse osmosis membranes.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for pi:
Step 3 — List the givens: number of ions per molecule (Phi) = 2.0000, molar concentration (M) = 0.1530 mol/L, gas constant (R) = 0.0821 L*atm/mol/K, absolute temperature (T) = 274.0 K.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning pi = 6.8836 atm to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 13.7672 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 3.4418 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 7.5720 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Osmotic Pressure of Electrolyte Solutions
osmotic pressure calculation for an electrolyte solution in RO design Given number of ions per molecule (Phi) = 2.0000; gas constant (R) = 0.0821 L*atm/mol/K; absolute temperature (T) = 301.0 K; osmotic pressure (pi) = 51.6300 atm, determine the molar concentration (M) in mol/L.
Given
Find
molar concentration (M), in mol/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Osmotic Pressure of Solutions of Electrolytes.
- Everything except M is given, so isolate M symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Osmotic pressure of solutions of electrolytes determines the driving pressure that must be overcome in reverse osmosis membranes.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for M:
Step 3 — List the givens: number of ions per molecule (Phi) = 2.0000, gas constant (R) = 0.0821 L*atm/mol/K, absolute temperature (T) = 301.0 K, osmotic pressure (pi) = 51.6300 atm.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning M = 1.0446 mol/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 2.0893 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 0.5223 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 1.1491 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Osmotic Pressure of Electrolyte Solutions
osmotic pressure of an electrolyte feed to a membrane system Given number of ions per molecule (Phi) = 1.0000; molar concentration (M) = 0.3350 mol/L; gas constant (R) = 0.0821 L*atm/mol/K; osmotic pressure (pi) = 0.9400 atm, determine the absolute temperature (T) in K.
Given
Find
absolute temperature (T), in K
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Osmotic Pressure of Solutions of Electrolytes.
- Everything except T is given, so isolate T symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Osmotic pressure of solutions of electrolytes determines the driving pressure that must be overcome in reverse osmosis membranes.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for T:
Step 3 — List the givens: number of ions per molecule (Phi) = 1.0000, molar concentration (M) = 0.3350 mol/L, gas constant (R) = 0.0821 L*atm/mol/K, osmotic pressure (pi) = 0.9400 atm.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning T = 34.1775 K to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 68.3549 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 17.0887 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 37.5952 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Osmotic Pressure of Electrolyte Solutions
osmotic pressure of solutions of electrolytes for a saline feedwater Given number of ions per molecule (Phi) = 4.0000; molar concentration (M) = 0.0420 mol/L; gas constant (R) = 0.0821 L*atm/mol/K; absolute temperature (T) = 304.0 K, determine the osmotic pressure (pi) in atm.
Given
Find
osmotic pressure (pi), in atm
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Osmotic Pressure of Solutions of Electrolytes.
- Everything except pi is given, so isolate pi symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Osmotic pressure of solutions of electrolytes determines the driving pressure that must be overcome in reverse osmosis membranes.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for pi:
Step 3 — List the givens: number of ions per molecule (Phi) = 4.0000, molar concentration (M) = 0.0420 mol/L, gas constant (R) = 0.0821 L*atm/mol/K, absolute temperature (T) = 304.0 K.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning pi = 4.1930 atm to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 8.3860 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 2.0965 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 4.6123 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Osmotic Pressure of Electrolyte Solutions