Osmosis

• Solute = solid/substance which dissolves in a solvent
• Solvent = liquid which is able to dissolve a solid
• Solution = formed when solute dissolves in solvent
• Dissolved solutes in water makes the water potential more negative
• Osmosis is the net movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential to a region of lower water potential across a partially permeable membrane
• Increasing the number of channel proteins increases the permeability of the cell membrane
• A solution with a high solute concentration has a low water potential (negative)
• The greater the difference between the water potential inside and outside the cell, the faster osmosis occurs