Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a partially permeable membrane from a region of higher water potential to a region of lower water potential.
Pure water has the highest water potential of 0kPA. The water potential of cells is therefore less than that of pure water, because of all the sugars dissolved in the cytoplasm. This means when placed in pure water, water passes into the cell by osmosis causing it to swell. In plant cells this is called turgid, and an animal cell will eventually burst and become haemolysed.
When placed in a concentrated solution water passes out of the cell by osmosis causing plant cells to become plasmolysed and animal cells to become crenated.
Comments
No comments have yet been made