Water potential of aqueous polyethylene glycol.

Water potential (Psiomega) values were determined for aqueous colloids of four molecular sizes of polyethylene glycol (PEG) using freezing-point depression and vapor-pressure deficit methods. A significant third-order interaction exists between the method used to determine Psiomega, PEG molecular size, and concentration. At low PEG concentrations, freezing-point depression measurements result in higher (less negative) values for Psiomega than do vapor-pressure deficit measurements. The reverse is true at high concentrations. PEG in water does not behave according to van't Hoff's law. Psiomega is related to molality for a given PEG but not linearly. Moreover, Psiomega varies with the molecular size of the PEG. It is suggested that the Psiomega of PEG in water may be controlled primarily by the matric forces of ethylene oxide subunits of the PEG polymer. The term matricum is proposed for PEG in soil-plant-water relation studies.