B1.7 - Osmosis Flashcards
What is Osmosis?
Osmosis is a special type of diffusion. It is when water move from a dilute to a more concentrated area through a partially permeable membrane that allows water through.
What is a dilute solution of sugar?
It is a solution that contains a high concentration of water (the solvent) and a low concentration of sugar (the solute)
What is a concentrated solution of sugar?
It is a solution with a high concentration of sugar (the solute) and a low concentration of water (the solvent)
What is cytoplasm made up of? (2 Parts)
- A solution of chemicals dissolved in water
- A fairly concentrated solution of salts and sugars
How does osmosis happen across the cell membrane?
Water outside of the cell is in a dilute solution. It moves to a concentrated solution inside the cell, across the cell membrane.
Why does the concentration of solutes in the body need to stay at the same level?
If the solutes are at different levels of concentration, cells could end up swelling and bursting, or shrivelling up from lack of water.
What is the term for when the concentration of solutes inside and outside of the cell is the same?
The external solution is isotonic to the cell
What is the term for when the concentration of solutes outside of the cell is greater than the internal concentration?
The external solution is hypertonic to the cell
What is the term for when the concentration of solutes outside of the cell is less than than the internal concentration?
The external solution is hypotonic to the cell
What happens to animal cells if the concentration of the internal and external solutions has too great a difference?
The cell can either shrivel up (hypertonic) or burst (hypotonic)