It is the measure of tendancy of water molecules to diffuse from a region of higher water potential to a region of lower water potential.
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Why is the water potential in plants always negative?
Because all plants contain cytoplasm and cytoplasm which contains salts and sugars. Having these solutes lowers the number of free water molecules in the cytoplasm.
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Why is it that if you place a plant in pure water it will take up water molecules by osmosis?
Because the water potential in plant cells is lower than the water potential of water.
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What term do you use when a cell is full of water?
turgid
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If you place a plant cell in a solution with a very low water potential, will it gain water by osmosis?
No because the water potential of the cell is higher than the water potential of the solution, and so it loses its turgidity
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What will eventually happen if a plant cell continues to lose water?
The cytoplasm and vacuole will shrink and the plasma membrane will lose contact with wall (plasmolysis)
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
Why is the water potential in plants always negative?
Back
Because all plants contain cytoplasm and cytoplasm which contains salts and sugars. Having these solutes lowers the number of free water molecules in the cytoplasm.
Card 3
Front
Why is it that if you place a plant in pure water it will take up water molecules by osmosis?
Back
Card 4
Front
What term do you use when a cell is full of water?
Back
Card 5
Front
If you place a plant cell in a solution with a very low water potential, will it gain water by osmosis?
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