Cells: Osmosis, Diffusion, Size

Front

What is osmosis?

Back

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules through a selectively permeable membrane from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration.

Front

What is diffusion?

Back

Diffusion is the process by which molecules spread from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration until equilibrium is reached.

Front

What is a hypotonic solution?

Back

A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of a cell, causing water to enter the cell and potentially make it swell or burst.

Front

What is a hypertonic solution?

Back

A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes compared to the inside of a cell, causing water to leave the cell and making it shrink.

Front

What is an isotonic solution?

Back

An isotonic solution has the same concentration of solutes as the inside of a cell, resulting in no net movement of water into or out of the cell.

Front

What is active transport?

Back

Active transport is the movement of molecules across a cell membrane from a region of lower concentration to a region of higher concentration, requiring energy (ATP).

Front

What is passive transport?

Back

Passive transport is the movement of molecules across a cell membrane without the use of energy, typically occurring through diffusion or osmosis.

Front

What role does ATP play in cellular transport?

Back

ATP provides the energy required for active transport processes, allowing cells to move substances against their concentration gradient.

Front

What happens to red blood cells in a hypotonic solution?

Back

Red blood cells swell and may burst due to the influx of water from the surrounding solution.

Front

What happens to red blood cells in a hypertonic solution?

Back

Red blood cells shrink as water moves out of the cells into the surrounding solution.