Osmosis Flashcards
What is a solute?
The substance being dissolved
What is a solvent?
The liquid where the substance is dissolved
What is a solution?
The liquid created when a solvent dissolved in a solution
What is an aquaporin?
A channel protein for water
What is the definition of osmosis?
The net movement of water from a high water potential to a low water potential through a partially permeable membrane
What is water potential?
The potential for the water molecules to move
What happens to the water potential if the solute increases?
The water potential decreases and is always negative
What is pure water’s water potential?
0 KPa
What is water potential measured in?
KPa
What is isotonic?
The outside solute has the same water potential as the cytoplasm
What is hypotonic?
The outside solute has a higher water potential as the cytoplasm (more dilute)
What is hypertonic?
The outside solute has a lower water potential as the cytoplasm (more concentration)
What happens when the solution around an
animal cell is hypotonic?
The water will enter the cell, so the cell will burst as the plasma membrane breaks, so it’s cytolysis
What happens when the solution around an
animal cell is hypertonic?
The water will leave the cell, so the cell will become shrivelled and crenated
What happens when the solution around an
plant cell is hypotonic?
The water will go into the cell so the cell will swell up in size and the contents push against the cell wall, so it will be turgid
