Why is "osmolality" preferred over "osmolarity" as the measurement of osmotic activity in the clinical assessment of individuals?
A)Because plasma contains sodium and chloride, which influence the volume of solution
B)Because the volume affects perfusion more than the weight of solutes
C)Because more of the weight of plasma is influenced by solutes, such as protein and glucose, rather than by water
D)Because osmotic activity depends on the concentration of solutes present in plasma, such as proteins and glucose

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In plasma, less of the plasma weight is water and the overall concentration of particles is therefore greater. The osmolality will be greater than the osmolarity because of the smaller proportion of water. Osmolality is thus the preferred measure of osmotic activity in clinical assessment of individuals.

Why Is "Osmolality" Preferred Over "Osmolarity" as the Measurement of Osmotic