Osmosis

Front

What is osmosis?

Back

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

Front

Define 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 leading to cell swelling or bursting.

Front

What happens to a cell in a hypertonic solution?

Back

In a hypertonic solution, the concentration of solutes outside the cell is higher than inside, causing water to leave the cell, leading to cell shrinkage.

Front

What is equilibrium in the context of osmosis?

Back

Equilibrium is the state where the concentration of water and solutes is equal inside and outside the cell, resulting in no net movement of water.

Front

What is passive transport?

Back

Passive transport is the movement of substances across a cell membrane without the use of energy, relying on concentration gradients.

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.

Front

How does osmosis differ from diffusion?

Back

Osmosis specifically refers to the movement of water, while diffusion refers to the movement of any type of molecules.

Front

What role do cell membranes play in osmosis?

Back

Cell membranes are selectively permeable, allowing water to pass through while restricting the movement of solutes.

Front

What is the significance of concentration gradients in osmosis?

Back

Concentration gradients drive the movement of water during osmosis, as water moves from areas of low solute concentration to high solute concentration.