Osmosis

Front

What is osmosis?

Back

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

Front

What does hypertonic mean?

Back

A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes compared to another solution.

Front

What does hypotonic mean?

Back

A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes compared to another solution.

Front

What does isotonic mean?

Back

An isotonic solution has the same concentration of solutes as another solution.

Front

If a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, what happens to the cell?

Back

The cell will lose water and shrink.

Front

If a cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, what happens to the cell?

Back

The cell will gain water and may swell or burst.

Front

What is the primary substance that moves during osmosis?

Back

Water.

Front

Why can't humans drink seawater?

Back

Seawater is hypertonic to human cells, causing dehydration as water moves out of the cells.

Front

What is a selectively permeable membrane?

Back

A selectively permeable membrane allows certain substances to pass through while blocking others.

Front

What is the role of osmosis in plant cells?

Back

Osmosis helps maintain turgor pressure in plant cells, keeping them rigid.