Osmosis Flashcards
What is osmosis?
Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration through a selectively permeable membrane.
True or False: Osmosis is a type of passive transport.
True
Fill in the blank: Osmosis is driven by the concentration gradient of ________.
water
What is a selectively permeable membrane?
A membrane that allows certain molecules or ions to pass through while blocking others.
Which organelle in plant cells plays a role in osmosis?
Vacuole
What happens to plant cells in a hypertonic solution?
They lose water and shrink, causing wilting.
In which direction does water move in a hypotonic solution for plant cells?
Into the cell
What is turgor pressure in plant cells?
The pressure exerted by the cell contents against the cell wall as a result of water uptake.
How does osmosis help plants maintain their shape and structure?
By regulating the movement of water into and out of cells to maintain turgor pressure.
What is plasmolysis in plant cells?
The process in which a cell loses water in a hypertonic solution, causing the cell membrane to shrink away from the cell wall.
What is the role of aquaporins in osmosis?
Aquaporins are proteins that facilitate the movement of water across cell membranes.
How does temperature affect the rate of osmosis?
Higher temperatures generally increase the rate of osmosis due to increased kinetic energy of molecules.
What is the difference between osmosis and diffusion?
Osmosis specifically refers to the movement of water molecules, while diffusion is the movement of any type of molecule.
How does osmosis contribute to nutrient uptake in plants?
Osmosis helps plants absorb essential nutrients dissolved in soil water through their roots.
What is the importance of osmosis in maintaining plant cell turgidity?
Turgidity helps support plants structurally and aids in efficient nutrient transport.