Osmosis and Diffusion

Front

What is osmosis?

Back

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

Front

What is diffusion?

Back

Diffusion is the process by which molecules spread from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration until equilibrium is reached.

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.

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.

Front

What is an isotonic solution?

Back

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

Front

What happens to a cell in a hypertonic solution?

Back

The cell shrinks as water moves out of it.

Front

What happens to a cell in a hypotonic solution?

Back

The cell swells and may burst as water moves into it.

Front

What is equilibrium in the context of osmosis and diffusion?

Back

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

Front

What role does the cell membrane play in osmosis and diffusion?

Back

The cell membrane is selectively permeable, allowing certain molecules to pass while blocking others, thus regulating the movement of water and solutes.

Front

What is the solvent in a solution?

Back

The solvent is the substance that dissolves the solute; in biological systems, water is often the solvent.