Osmosis

Front

What is osmosis?

Back

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

Front

What happens to a cell in a hypertonic solution?

Back

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

Front

What is a hypotonic solution?

Back

A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell, leading to water moving into the cell and causing it to swell.

Front

Define equilibrium in the context of osmosis.

Back

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

Front

What is a selectively permeable membrane?

Back

A selectively permeable membrane allows certain molecules, such as water, to pass through while blocking others.

Front

How does temperature affect the rate of osmosis?

Back

Higher temperatures increase the kinetic energy of water molecules, which can speed up the rate of osmosis.

Front

What role do aquaporins play in osmosis?

Back

Aquaporins are specialized protein channels in cell membranes that facilitate the rapid transport of water molecules during osmosis.

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 from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

Front

What is a solute?

Back

A solute is a substance that is dissolved in a solvent, forming a solution.

Front

What is a solvent?

Back

A solvent is a substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution; in biological systems, water is the most common solvent.