Osmosis Flashcards
What kind of water has the highest water potential?
Pure water.
What is a hypotonic solution?
A solution with a higher water potential than the cell.
What is an isotonic solution?
A solution with the same water potential as the cell.
What is a hypertonic solution?
A solution with a lower water potential than the cell.
How does an animal cell behave in a hypotonic solution?
CYTOLYSIS happens. The cell bursts as water moves into the cell. Cell membranes cannot withstand high pressures.
How does an animal cell behave in an isotonic solution?
The cell stays the same as water moves in and out of the cell at equal rates.
How does an animal cell behave in a hypertonic solution?
CRENATION happens. The cell shrinks and puckers as water moves out of the cell and volume decreases.
How does a plant cell behave in a hypotonic solution?
The vacuole swells and cell becomes turgid as the water moves into the cell.
How does a plant cell behave in an isotonic solution?
The cell stays the same as water moves in and out of the cell at equal amounts.
How does a plant cell behave in a hypertonic solution?
PLASMOLYSIS occurs. The cell becomes flaccid and limp as water is moving out of the cell.
What is plasmolysis?
When the cytoplasm and the membrane pulls away from the cell wall.
What is osmosis?
The diffusion of water molecules from a region of high water potential to a region of low water potential, down the gradient, across a partially permeable membrane.
