Osmosis Flashcards
What does osmosis mean?
Osmosis is the movement of water molecules across a partially permeable membrane from a region of higher water concentration to a region of lower water concentration.
What is a partially permeable membrane?
A membrane with very small holes in it, that only tiny molecules (like water) can pass through them.
Which way do molecules pass through the membrane during osmosis?
Both ways, because water molecules move about randomly all the time. But because there are more water molecules on one side than on the other, there’s a steady net flow of water into the region with fewer water molecules, i.e. into the stronger sugar solution.
What happens to the strong sugar solution when there is a net flow of water into the solution?
The solution gets more dilute. The water acts like it’s trying to “even up” the concentration either side of the membrane.
What is osmosis a type of?
It’s a type of diffusion - passive movement of water particles from an area of higher water concentration to an area of lower water concentration.
