Osmosis
Defininition: The movement of water particles from a high water potential to a low water potential across a partially permeable membrane
Impact on animal cells: If an animal cell is placed in a salt solution, the water will travel out of it (high to low W.P.) and it will become flaccid. If it is placed in water, the water will travel into it and it will swell and burst (has no cell wall)
Impact on animal cells: If placed in a water solution, it will become flaccid as the water travels out. If placed in water, it will become turgid but will not burst because of the cell wall. Plant cells need to be turgid because it provides support to keep the plant upright.
Affected by:
- S.A. to volume ratio (the larger the surface area and the smaller the volume, the faster)
- Temperature (particles have more energy...or less!)
- Concentration (more particles therefore faster osmosis)
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