Osmosis in Animal Cells

Question 1

Osmosis is the

Answer 1

Osmosis is the net movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential (dilute solution) to a region of lower water potential (concentrated solution), through a partially permeable membrane

Like plant cells, animal cells can also lose and gain water as a result of osmosis

Question 2

Why are the affects of osmosis on animal cells more severe

Answer 2

As animal cells do not have a supporting cell wall (unlike plant cells), the results of this loss or gain of water on the cell are more severe

Question 3

For example, if an animal cell is placed in a solution with a lower water potential than the cell (such as a concentrated sucrose solution), water will ………

Answer 3

water will leave the cell through its partially permeable cell surface membrane by osmosis and the cell will shrink and shrivel up

This occurs when the cell is in a hypertonic environment (the solution outside of the cell has a higher solute concentration than the inside of the cell)

Question 4

Conversely, if an animal cell is placed in pure water or a dilute solution, water will

Answer 4

, water will enter the cell through its partially permeable cell surface membrane by osmosis, as the pure water or dilute solution has a higher water potential

Question 5

The cell will continue to gain water by osmosis until the cell membrane is

Answer 5

stretched too far and the cell bursts (cytolysis), as it has no cell wall to withstand the increased pressure created

This occurs when the cell is in a hypotonic environment (the solution outside of the cell has a lower solute concentration than the inside of the cell)

This is why a constant water potential must be maintained inside the bodies of animals

Question 6

What is a hypotonic solution

Answer 6

hypotonic solution is a solution that has a lower concentration of solute compared to the cell.

Question 7

hypertonic solution

Answer 7

hypertonic the solution outside of the cell has a higher solute concentration than the inside of the cell)

cell will shrink

Question 8

isotonic solution

Answer 8

the solution outside of the cell has the same solute concentration as the inside of the cell), the movement of water molecules into and out of the cell occurs at the same rate (no net movement of water) and there is no change to the cells

Question 9

Why does a constant water potential need to be maintained in animal cells

Answer 9

Cells can burst

Question 10

Exam Tip
Be careful with your scientific terminology – animal cells do not plasmolyse because they do not have a cell wall. In a solution with a lower water potential than the cell itself, animal cells will shrink. Plasmolysis only occurs in plant cells.