OSMOSIS Flashcards
definition of osmosis
movement of water molecules from an area of higher water potential to an area of lower water potential through a selectively permeable membrane
what is water potential measured in
kilopascals
what happens to water potential when a solute is added to pure water
lowers its water potential
what is a hypotonic solution
more water and less solute
what is a hypertonic solution
less water and more solute
what happens to a cell in pure water
animal cell - will eventually burst (haemolysed)
plant cell - cytoplasm and vacuole will push against the cell wall which stops the cell from getting any larger (turgid)
what happens to a cell in sugar solution
animal cell - cell content shrinks and membrane wrinkles (flaccid / crenated)
plant cell - cytoplasm and vacuole shrink and membrane pulls away from cell wall (plasmolysed)