osmosis

• What is osmosis?

  The diffusion of water through a membrane
• What does osmosis involve in terms of solutions?

  Water moves from dilute to concentrated solutions
• What type of membrane allows osmosis to occur?

  Partially permeable membrane
• What happens to water molecules in a dilute sugar solution?

  They have a high concentration of water
• What is the characteristic of a concentrated sugar solution?

  It contains a low concentration of water
• What does a partially permeable membrane allow?

  It allows some molecules to pass through
• What happens to water when placed in a cell with a higher concentration of water outside?

  Water diffuses into the cell
• What effect does osmosis have on an animal cell in pure water?

  The cell expands and may burst
• What happens to an animal cell in a concentrated solution?

  Water moves out and the cell shrinks
• What happens to a plant cell in pure water?

  The cell becomes turgid and swollen
• Why doesn't a plant cell burst in pure water?

  The cell wall prevents bursting
• What happens to a plant cell in a concentrated solution?

  Water moves out and the cell becomes flaccid
• What term describes a swollen plant cell?

  Turgid
• What term describes a shrunk plant cell?

  Flaccid
• What are the effects of osmosis on animal and plant cells?

  • Animal cells in water: expand and may burst
  • Animal cells in concentrated solution: shrink
  • Plant cells in water: become turgid
  • Plant cells in concentrated solution: become flaccid