Cards (8)

  • Osmosis
    The net movement of water molecules across a partially permeable membrane from a region of higher water concentration to a region of lower water concentration
  • Water concentration
    The amount of water as compared to the other molecules like sugars or salts that are dissolved in that water
  • Dissolving molecules
    • Solutes
  • Beakers with different water concentrations
    • Beaker with 1 solute particle
    • Beaker with 3 solute particles
  • The beaker with more solute particles has a lower water concentration
  • The key point is that it's not the volume of water but the proportion of water compared to solutes that determines the concentration
  • Osmosis in cells
    Water particles diffuse from the outside of the cell (higher water concentration) down the concentration gradient into the cell (lower water concentration)
  • The difference in water concentration between the outside and inside of the cell drives the process of osmosis