Osmosis

• What is osmosis defined as?

  The diffusion of water molecules
• How does osmosis occur?

  Water moves from high to low concentration
• What type of membrane is involved in osmosis?

  Partially-permeable membrane
• What do partially permeable membranes prevent?

  Movement of larger molecules like sugars
• What is the impact of osmosis on animal cells?

  It can have drastic impacts due to lack of cell wall
• What happens to animal cells in a strong solute solution?

  The cell loses water and becomes crenated
• What occurs to animal cells in distilled water?

  The cell gains water and may burst
• Why are plant cells protected from bursting?

  They have a cell wall
• What happens to plant cells in a strong solution?

  The cell loses water and becomes plasmolysed
• What occurs to plant cells in distilled water?

  The cell gains water and becomes turgid
• What are the effects of osmosis on animal and plant cells?

  Animal Cells:

  • In strong solute solution: loses water, becomes crenated
  • In distilled water: gains water, may burst

  
  

  Plant Cells:

  • In strong solution: loses water, becomes plasmolysed
  • In distilled water: gains water, becomes turgid