The physics of osmotic pressure
Abstract
The proper application of the virial theorem to the origin of osmotic pressure provides a simple, vivid and complete explanation of the physical processes involved; osmosis is driven by differential solvent pressures. This simple and intuitive notion is widely disregarded, but the virial theorem allows an exact formulation and unifies a number of different treatments. It is closely related to a kinetic treatment devised by Ehrenfest over 100 years ago.
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