Why is solute potential always negative? Explain ${{y}_{w}}={{y}_{s}}+{{y}_{p}}$
Why is solute potential always negative? Explain ${{y}_{w}}={{y}_{s}}+{{y}_{p}}$

Solution:

Because the concentration of water in a solution is lower than that of pure water, when a solute is dissolved in water, the water potential is reduced. Solute potential is a metric for determining how much water pollution is reduced as a result of a substance. The value of solute potential is always negative since it has a negative impact on water potential.

At atmospheric pressure, a solution’s water potential equals its solute potential. The water potential of the solute increases when a pressure larger than atmospheric pressure is applied.

This is Illustrated by following equation: ${{y}_{w}}={{y}_{s}}+{{y}_{p}}$

Here ${{y}_{w}}$is water potential,${{y}_{s}}$ is solute potential and ${{y}_{p}}$is pressure potential.