Osmosis

Front

What is osmosis?

Back

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules through a semi-permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.

Front

What happens to a cell in a hypertonic solution?

Back

In a hypertonic solution, the cell loses water and decreases in size.

Front

What is a hypotonic solution?

Back

A hypotonic solution is one where the concentration of solutes is lower outside the cell than inside, causing the cell to gain water and swell.

Front

What does isotonic mean in relation to cells?

Back

Isotonic means that the concentration of solutes is equal inside and outside the cell, resulting in no net movement of water.

Front

How do water molecules move during osmosis?

Back

Water molecules move from an area of greater concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Front

What is a semi-permeable membrane?

Back

A semi-permeable membrane is a barrier that allows certain molecules, like water, to pass through while blocking others.

Front

What occurs when a cell is placed in distilled water?

Back

When a cell is placed in distilled water (a hypotonic solution), it takes in water and may swell or burst.

Front

What is the role of osmosis in plant cells?

Back

Osmosis helps maintain turgor pressure in plant cells, keeping them rigid and upright.

Front

What happens to animal cells in an isotonic solution?

Back

Animal cells in an isotonic solution remain balanced and do not change in size.

Front

What is turgor pressure?

Back

Turgor pressure is the pressure exerted by the fluid inside the central vacuole of a plant cell against the cell wall.