Cell Membranes and Transport

Front

What is osmosis?

Back

Osmosis is a form of passive transport that specifically refers to the movement of water molecules across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.

Front

What does isotonic mean in relation to cell membranes?

Back

Isotonic refers to a solution where the concentration of solutes is equal on both sides of a semipermeable membrane, resulting in no net movement of water into or out of the cell.

Front

What is the difference between osmosis and diffusion?

Back

Osmosis refers specifically 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 happens to a cell in a hypotonic solution?

Back

In a hypotonic solution, water enters the cell, causing it to swell and potentially burst due to the higher concentration of solutes inside the cell compared to the surrounding solution.

Front

What does hydrophilic mean?

Back

Hydrophilic means 'water-loving' and describes substances that are attracted to water and can easily dissolve in it.

Front

What does hydrophobic mean?

Back

Hydrophobic means 'water-fearing' and describes substances that do not interact well with water and tend to repel it.

Front

What is active transport?

Back

Active transport is the movement of molecules across a cell membrane from an area of lower concentration to an area of higher concentration, requiring energy (ATP) to do so.

Front

What is passive transport?

Back

Passive transport is the movement of molecules across a cell membrane without the use of energy, occurring naturally due to concentration gradients.

Front

What is a semipermeable membrane?

Back

A semipermeable membrane is a barrier that allows certain molecules or ions to pass through while blocking others, often used in biological contexts to regulate the movement of substances in and out of cells.

Front

What is the role of transport proteins in cell membranes?

Back

Transport proteins facilitate the movement of substances across the cell membrane, either by passive transport (e.g., channels) or active transport (e.g., pumps).