Tonicity

Front

What is tonicity?

Back

Tonicity refers to the ability of a surrounding solution to affect the volume of a cell by osmosis, based on the concentration of solutes in the solution compared to the concentration of solutes inside the cell.

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, leading to cell shrinkage.

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, leading to cell swelling or bursting.

Front

Define isotonic solution.

Back

An isotonic solution has an equal concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell, resulting in no net movement of water into or out of the cell.

Front

How does a cell maintain homeostasis?

Back

A cell maintains homeostasis by regulating what enters and leaves the cell through its selectively permeable membrane.

Front

What happens to a cell in a hypertonic solution?

Back

In a hypertonic solution, the cell loses water and shrinks due to the higher concentration of solutes outside the cell.

Front

What happens to a cell in a hypotonic solution?

Back

In a hypotonic solution, the cell gains water and may swell or burst due to the lower concentration of solutes outside the cell.

Front

What is the role of the cell membrane in tonicity?

Back

The cell membrane controls the movement of water and solutes in and out of the cell, playing a crucial role in maintaining tonicity.

Front

What is osmotic pressure?

Back

Osmotic pressure is the pressure required to prevent the flow of water across a semipermeable membrane, influenced by solute concentration.

Front

How can you identify a solution as isotonic?

Back

A solution is isotonic if the concentration of solutes is equal inside and outside the cell, resulting in no net movement of water.