Osmosis

Front

What is osmosis?

Back

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

Front

What does hypertonic mean?

Back

A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes compared to another solution, leading to water moving out of cells.

Front

What does hypotonic mean?

Back

A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes compared to another solution, causing water to move into cells.

Front

What does isotonic mean?

Back

An isotonic solution has the same concentration of solutes as another solution, resulting in no net movement of water.

Front

Why can't you drink salt water?

Back

Because salt water is hypertonic to your cells, causing water to move out of your cells and leading to dehydration.

Front

What happens to a cell in a hypertonic solution?

Back

The cell will lose water and shrink because water moves out of the cell.

Front

What happens to a cell in a hypotonic solution?

Back

The cell will gain water and may swell or burst because water moves into the cell.

Front

What is the direction of water movement during osmosis?

Back

Water moves from an area of high water concentration (low solute concentration) to an area of low water concentration (high solute concentration).

Front

What is a selectively permeable membrane?

Back

A selectively permeable membrane allows certain molecules to pass through while blocking others, crucial for osmosis.

Front

What is the role of energy in osmosis?

Back

Osmosis is a passive process and does not require energy; it relies on the concentration gradient.