Osmosis Flashcards
Water potential is..
A measure of the tendency of water molecules to diffuse from one place to another
What is the water potential of pure water?
0 kPa (kilopascals)
What happens if animal cells are put in pure water
Lots of water molecules enter, cell swells and bursts, this is called cytolysis
What happens if an animal cell is put in concentrated solute solution
Lots of H2O molecules leave, cell shrivels, we call it cremated
What happens if a plant cell is put in pure water
The strong cellulose cell wall prevents bursting, instead the pressure of water pushing on the cell wall will make the cell turgid
What happens if a plant cell is put in concentrated solute solution
The cytoplasm will shrink and the membrane will begin to pull away from the cell wall. The cell is plasmolysed and the tissue is flaccid
Deifinition of osmosis
Movement of water particles from an area of high conc to an area of low conc across a partially permeable membrane