Flashcard - Osmosis and Diffusion

Front

What is osmosis?

Back

The movement of water molecules across a semipermeable membrane from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration.

Front

What is diffusion?

Back

The movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration until equilibrium is reached.

Front

What happens to a cell in a hypotonic solution?

Back

The cell will gain water and swell.

Front

What happens to a cell in a hypertonic solution?

Back

The cell will lose water and shrink.

Front

What is equilibrium in the context of cell biology?

Back

The state where molecules are equally concentrated (balanced) on both sides of the cell membrane.

Front

What are molecules?

Back

Small particles that make up substances and can move and interact with each other.

Front

What is the difference between osmosis and diffusion?

Back

Osmosis specifically refers to the movement of water, while diffusion refers to the movement of any type of molecules.

Front

What is a semipermeable membrane?

Back

A barrier that allows certain substances to pass through while blocking others.

Front

What is concentration?

Back

The amount of a substance in a given volume of solution.

Front

What is an isotonic solution?

Back

A solution where the concentration of solutes is equal inside and outside the cell, resulting in no net movement of water.