Movement of Cells Flashcards
What is Diffusion?
Diffusion is the movement of particles from a high concentration to a lower one.
Example of diffusion
Movement of carbon dioxide from the air into the leaves of a plant (Carbon dioxide is more concentrated in the air than the leaf).
What is Osmosis?
Osmosis is the movement of WATER from a high concentration (dilute solution) to a lower one (concentrated solution)
The difference between dilute and concentrated solutions is
- Dilute solution has a higher water potential
- Concentrated solution has a lower water potential
Mention the most important requirement the membrane needs to have for osmosis to take place
The cell needs to be semi-permeable
What are the examples of a semi-permeable membrane?
Visking tube and cell membrane
Would the cell of an animal cell burst in pure water? Why?
Yes, because the cytoplasm that is contained in every cell is a fairly concentrated solution. So, the pure water from outside of the cell will move into the cell membrane, filling it up and eventually bursting.
How about in a plant cell?
No, because the cell wall is very strong. It will still perform osmosis inside the cell because the cell wall is fully permeable and the cell membrane is partially permeable. However, when the cytoplasm pushes back into the cell wall, it prevents it from breaking, meaning it’s turgid.
What happens to both animal and plant cells when put in a concentrated solution?
The cell in the animal cell will shrink because it gives water to the concentrated solution.
The plant cell will become flaccid due to the same phenomenon happening.
What happens to the plant cell when put in a highly concentrated solution?
Plasmolysing will happen. The cytoplasm and vacuole of the plant will shrink, leaving the cell wall behind which results in the cell membrane surrounding the cytoplasm tearing away from the cell wall, causing the plant to wither.
