Solute potential (${\Psi }_s$)

Solute potential is the contribution to water potential from dissolved material, with pure water assigned zero. In the nearly incompressible description, ${\Psi }_s=(RT/{\bar{V}}_w)\ln a_w$. In a dilute ideal chemical solution, ${\Psi }_s\simeq -RT{c}_{\mathrm{osm}}$, where $c_{\mathrm{osm}}$ is the osmotic concentration of dissolved particles. Thus solute potential is negative while the corresponding osmotic pressure is positive: ${\Psi }_s\simeq -\Pi$. This sign difference distinguishes a contribution to water potential from the compensating mechanical pressure.^[ref]