Chapter 4: Cell Membranes Flashcards
What is osmosis
Net movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential to a region of lower water potential, through a partially permeable membrane, as a result of random motion (diffusion).
What is water potential equation
Water p= Solute p + Pressure p
Symbol psi
What is water potential
Tendency of water to move out of a solution
Water potential depend on 2 factors :
Solute potential
Pressure potential
What is water potential of pure water at atmospheric pressure
0
What is solute potential
Contribution of concentration of solute to water potential. It is extent to which solute decreases water potential of solution.
The more the solute the lower the tendency of water to move out
Solute potential for pure water
0, and has negative value for a solution
Greater the solute concentration the more the negative value of solute potential
What is pressure potential
Contribution of pressure to water potential. Value always positive
Effect of isotonic solution on animal cell
- amount of solute in sol=solute in cell
- water potential in sol=water potential in cell
- net movement of water is 0
- no effect seen in cell
Effect of hypertonic solution on animal cell
- amount of solute in sol> in cell
- water potential of sol less than cell’s
- net movement from cell to outside
- cell shrinks
Effect of hypotonic solution on animal cell
- amount of solute in sol less than that of cell
- water potential of sol more than cell’s
- net movement from sol to cell
- cell swells and bursts
Effect of isotonic solution on a plant cell
- solute concentration of solution= solute concentration of cell cytoplasm
- water potential in and out is same
- net movement of water=0
- no effect on cell
Effect of hypotonic solution on plant cell
- solute concentration of solution < solute conc in cell cytoplasm
- water potential in sol > water potential in cell
- net movement of water from sol to cell
- cell becomes turgid, as cytoplasm increases in volume. Does not burst due to elastic cell wall. As cell wall swells exerts equal opposite wall pressure, little water needed to achieve this
Effect on hypertonic solution on plant cell
- solute concentration of solution > solute conc in cell cytoplasm
- water potential in sol < cells
- net movement of water from plant cell to sol
- cytoplasm shrinks and detaches from cell wall
Continued effect of hypertonic solution on plant cell
Cytoplasm shrinks and detaches from cell wall. Point cell membrane fully detached pressure potential (of cytoplasm of cell wall) is 0
W=Ws+Wp, Wp=0, Wn=Ws. WaterP=SoluteP
Water and solute from solution in cell both move through permeable cell wall. Hence external solution remains with shrinking protoplasm. As it shrinks pulls away from cell wall. Hypertonic sol occupies spaces
Called plasmolysis
What is protoplasm
Cell membrane+Interior
What is incipient plasmolysis
Point at which pressure potential has just reached 0 and plasmolysis is about to occur
What is diffusion
Net movement of molecules or ions from a region of higher concentration to region of lower concentration down a gradient as a result of random movement of particles
Factors affecting diffusion :
Steepness of conc gradient Temperature Surface area Distance Nature of molecule/ion
Steepness of conc gradient
Difference in conc os substance on 2 sides of the surface
Greater the difference in conc greater no of molecules passing in the 2 directions, hence faster rate of diffusion
Temperature affecting diffusion
Higher temp, molecules have more kinetic energy than at low temp. Move around faster and diffusion is faster
Surface area affecting diffusion (and to volume ratio)
Greater surface area faster diffusion
Larger the cell smaller the surface area in relation to volume
Example of structures that increase surface area
Microvilli are foldings in small intestine increase surface area
Distance affecting diffusion
Diffusion is inversely proportional to square of distance travelled
D α 1/d^2
Nature of molecule affecting diffusion
- large ones need more energy to diffuse than small ones
- non polar ones(glyercol,alcohol,steroids)diffuse more easily than polar through hydrophobic part of membrane
- uncharged and nonpolar mols eg respiratory gases(O2, CO2)diffuse through membrane
- water, being polar, rapidly diffuses across phospholipid bilayer because it’s small
What is active transport
Movement of substances from lower conc to higher conc using energy of ATP, using carrier proteins. It is specific