Osmosis and Water Potential

• What process is osmosis?

  Passive.
• What does a passive process mean?


  It doesn’t require any metabolic energy.
• What is osmosis?


  The movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential to a region of lower water potential through a partially permeable membrane.
• What do water molecules do to cells?

  Apply pressure on their membrane.
• What is the pressure applied on the membrane called?

  Water potential.
• What is the unit for water potential?

  Kilopascals.
• When is water potential great?

  When there is a great number of water molecules and high pressure.
• When does osmosis stop?

  When the concentrations are the same and equilibrium is reached.
• What is the water potential for pure water?

  0 kPa
• What solution has the highest possible water potential and why?

  Pure water, it has the highest possible concentration of water molecules.