Osmosis & Diffusion Flashcard 1

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 is diffusion?

Back

Diffusion is the process by which molecules spread from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration until they are evenly distributed.

Front

What does selectively permeable mean?

Back

Selectively permeable means that a membrane allows certain substances to pass through while blocking others.

Front

What is the role of the cell membrane?

Back

The cell membrane regulates what enters and leaves the cell, maintaining homeostasis.

Front

What is an example of diffusion in everyday life?

Back

An example of diffusion is the smell of perfume spreading in a room.

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 an isotonic solution?

Back

An isotonic solution is one where the concentration of solutes is the same inside and outside the cell, resulting in no net movement of water.

Front

What happens to a cell in a hypertonic solution?

Back

In a hypertonic solution, water moves out of the cell, causing it to shrink.

Front

What happens to a cell in a hypotonic solution?

Back

In a hypotonic solution, water moves into the cell, causing it to swell and potentially burst.

Front

What is active transport?

Back

Active transport is the movement of molecules against their concentration gradient, requiring energy.