osmosis

• osmosis:

  • movement of water particles from a higher concentration of water to a lower concentration of water through a partially permeable membrane
  • dilute: high concentration of water
  • concentrated: low concentration of water
  • passive transport - does not require energy
• isotonic:

  • if there is no net movement
  • solution is said to be isotonic
• hypertonic:

  • water moves by osmosis from inside the cell to outside
  • the solution is said to be hypertonic
• hypotonic:

  • water moves by osmosis from outside the cell to inside
  • the solution is said to be hypotonic
• osmosis in animals:

  • if the external solution is more dilute, it will move into animal cells, causing it to burst
  • if the external solution is more concentrated, excess water will leave the cell, causing it to be shriveled
• osmosis in plants:

  • if the external solution is more dilute, it will move into plant cells, causing them to be turgid - results in pressure called turgor
  • if the external solution is more concentrated, excess water will leave the cell, causing it to be flaccid - eventually cell membrane moves away from the cell wall ; this is plasmolysis