Osmosis across plant and animal cells

Plant cells

Isolated plant cells placed in a dilute solution or water will take in water by osmosis. Root hair cells, if the soil is wet or moist, will also take up water by osmosis. Leaf cells of land plants, unless it is raining or the humidity is high, will have a tendency to lose water.

Plant cells have a strong cellulosecell wall outside the cell membrane. The cell wall is fully permeable to all molecules and supports the cell and stops it bursting when it gains water by osmosis.

If plant cells are placed in solutions of increasing solute concentration:

Pure water

In pure water, the cell contents (the cytoplasm and vacuole) push against the cell wall and the cell becomes turgid.

Fully turgid cells support the stems of non-woody…