AP Biology Unit 2 Review Qs

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

Define isotonic solution.

Back

An isotonic solution is one that has the same solute concentration as another solution, resulting in no net movement of water across the membrane.

Front

What happens to a Paramecium in a hypertonic solution?

Back

In a hypertonic solution, water moves out of the Paramecium, causing it to shrink and potentially leading to dehydration.

Front

Explain the role of contractile vacuoles in Paramecia.

Back

Contractile vacuoles help regulate osmotic pressure by expelling excess water that enters the cell, maintaining homeostasis.

Front

What is diffusion?

Back

Diffusion is the passive movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Front

How does temperature affect the rate of diffusion?

Back

Increasing temperature generally increases the kinetic energy of molecules, leading to a higher rate of diffusion.

Front

What is the relationship between molecular size and diffusion rate?

Back

Larger molecules typically diffuse more slowly than smaller molecules due to their size and mass.

Front

Define hypotonic solution.

Back

A hypotonic solution has a lower solute concentration compared to another solution, leading to water entering the cell and potentially causing it to swell or burst.

Front

What is membrane fluidity?

Back

Membrane fluidity refers to the viscosity of the lipid bilayer of a cell membrane, affecting its flexibility and the movement of proteins within it.

Front

How do unsaturated phospholipids affect membrane fluidity?

Back

Unsaturated phospholipids contain one or more double bonds, creating kinks that prevent tight packing, thus increasing membrane fluidity.