Tonicity

Front

What is tonicity?

Back

Tonicity refers to the ability of a surrounding solution to affect the volume of a cell by osmosis, based on the concentration of solutes in the solution compared to the cell's interior.

Front

Define hypertonic solution.

Back

A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell, causing water to move out of the cell, leading to cell shrinkage.

Front

Define hypotonic solution.

Back

A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell, causing water to move into the cell, leading to cell swelling.

Front

Define isotonic solution.

Back

An isotonic solution has an equal concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell, resulting in no net movement of water into or out of the cell.

Front

What happens to a cell in a hypertonic solution?

Back

The cell will shrink as water moves out of the cell to balance the solute concentration.

Front

What happens to a cell in a hypotonic solution?

Back

The cell will swell and may burst as water moves into the cell to balance the solute concentration.

Front

What is osmosis?

Back

Osmosis is the movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration.

Front

How does a cell maintain homeostasis?

Back

A cell maintains homeostasis by regulating what enters and leaves the cell, ensuring a stable internal environment.

Front

What is the role of the cell membrane in tonicity?

Back

The cell membrane is selectively permeable, allowing certain substances to pass while blocking others, which is crucial for maintaining tonicity.

Front

What is equilibrium in the context of molecules?

Back

Equilibrium occurs when the concentration of molecules is equal inside and outside the cell, resulting in no net movement of molecules.