Osmosis

Question 1

What is osmosis?

Answer 1

Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules, from a region where the water molecules are in higher concentration, to a region where they are in lower concentration, through a partially permeable membrane.

Question 2

What is water potential?

Answer 2

The pressure exerted by water molecules as they collide with a container. Measured in pascals.
Pure water has the highest water potential- 0kPa
All solutions has negative water potentials
More concentrated solution= more negative water potential

Question 3

What is cytolysis?

Answer 3

If an animal cell is placed in a solution with a higher water concentration, water moves into the cell via osmosis. The cell surface membrane cannot stretch much and withstand the increased pressure so the cell bursts.

Question 4

What is crenation?

Answer 4

If an animal cell is placed in a solution with a lower water concentration, water moves out of the cell via osmosis. This will cause a reduction in the volume of the cell, the cell surface membrane will “pucker”