Osmosis

Created by: joshd
Created on: 15-03-14 12:48

What is osmosis?

OSMOSIS is the movement of water molecules across a partially permeable membrane from a region of high water concentration to a region of low water concentration.

1 of 6

What is a partially permeable membrane? What can pass through the holes? (1)

A partially permeable membrane is just one with very small holes in it. Only tiny molecules (like water) can pass through them, and bigger molecules (e.g, sucrose) can't.

2 of 6

How do water molecules pass through the membrane during osmosis and why? (2)

The water molecules actually pass both ways through the membrane during osmosis, as the water molecules move about randomly all the time.

3 of 6

What does it mean there is because of there being more water molecules on one side than on the other? (3)

Because there are more water molecules on one side than on the other, there's a steady net flow of water into the region with fewer water molecules, (ie., into the stronger sugar solution).

4 of 6

What then happens to the strong sugar solution? What does the water act like? (4)

The strong sugar solution gets more dilute. The water acts like it's trying to "even up" the concentration either side of the membrane.

5 of 6

What is osmosis a special type of? (5)

Diffusion - passive movement of water particles from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration.

6 of 6

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What is a partially permeable membrane? What can pass through the holes? (1)

Back

A partially permeable membrane is just one with very small holes in it. Only tiny molecules (like water) can pass through them, and bigger molecules (e.g, sucrose) can't.

Card 3

Front

How do water molecules pass through the membrane during osmosis and why? (2)

Back

Card 4

Front

What does it mean there is because of there being more water molecules on one side than on the other? (3)

Back

Card 5

Front

What then happens to the strong sugar solution? What does the water act like? (4)

Back

View more cards

Similar Biology resources:

See all Biology resources »

See all Osmosis resources »

Get Revising

Osmosis