Osmosis

• What is osmosis?

  Diffusion of water through a membrane
• What is the direction of water movement in osmosis?

  From dilute solution to concentrated solution
• What type of membrane allows osmosis to occur?

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

  It has a high concentration of water
• What happens in a concentrated sugar solution?

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

  Some molecules to pass through
• What happens to water when a cell is placed in water?

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

  Water moves in and the cell ends up becoming swollen
• Why doesn't a plant cell burst when it becomes turgid?

  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 plant cell that has lost water and shrunk?

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

  • Animal cells:
  • In water: expand and may burst
  • In concentrated solution: shrink
  • Plant cells:
  • In water: become turgid (swollen)
  • In concentrated solution: become flaccid (shrink)
• What are the key concepts of osmosis?

  • Definition: Diffusion of water through a membrane
  • Direction: From dilute to concentrated solution
  • Membrane type: Partially permeable