AP Biology Unit 2 Review Qs

Front

What is an isotonic solution?

Back

An isotonic solution has the same concentration of solutes as another solution, resulting in no net movement of water across a semipermeable membrane.

Front

What happens to red blood cells in a hypotonic solution?

Back

Red blood cells swell and may burst (lyse) because water moves into the cells where the solute concentration is higher.

Front

Why are isotonic solutions important in medical treatments?

Back

Isotonic solutions maintain equilibrium and avoid the exchange of materials to or from the blood, preventing cell damage.

Front

What is the difference between diffusion and osmosis?

Back

Diffusion is the movement of solutes from an area of high concentration to low concentration, while osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane.

Front

What is a dialysis bag and its purpose in experiments?

Back

A dialysis bag is a semipermeable membrane used to separate molecules based on size, allowing for the study of diffusion and osmosis.

Front

Why can fructose diffuse through a dialysis bag but lactose cannot?

Back

Fructose is a monosaccharide and smaller in size, allowing it to pass through the pores of the dialysis bag, while lactose is a larger disaccharide.

Front

What role do double bonds in fatty acid tails play in membrane fluidity?

Back

Double bonds create kinks in the fatty acid tails, preventing tight packing and increasing the fluidity of the membrane.

Front

How does water move during osmosis?

Back

Water moves from an area of high concentration of water (low solute concentration) to an area of low concentration of water (high solute concentration).

Front

What is the significance of solute concentration in osmosis?

Back

The concentration of solutes affects the direction of water movement; water moves towards higher solute concentrations to achieve equilibrium.

Front

What is the function of cholesterol in cell membranes?

Back

Cholesterol helps to stabilize membrane fluidity, making membranes less permeable to very small water-soluble molecules.