Osmosis

• What is Osmosis?

  The net movement of water molecules, from a high conc. to a low conc, across a partially permeable membrane.
• Osmosis is a passive process, it doesn't require energy from the cell.
• What does partially permeable mean?


  Only some types of molecules can pass through. (other types cant)
• What happens if you place a plant cell in a salty solution?

  1. Higher conc in the plant cell, than the salty solution,
  2. So, water will move from the inside of the plant to the outside,
  3. This will cause the plant to shrink.
• What happens if you place a plant cell in pure water?

  1. Lower conc in the plant cell, than the water around it.
  2. The water will move from the beaker, into the cell,
  3. This causes the cell to expand.
• Plant cells have a strong cell wall, so it cant burst; whereas animal cells burst due to the water they are placed in.