Osmolarity and Tonicity

what’s osmolairty?

the number of solute particles per volume

high osmolarity (hyperosmotic) = more solute particels relative to solutions

Low osmolarity (hyposmotic) = less solute particles relative to volume of solution

ISOSMOTIC; SAME amount of particles and solution

What’s tonicity?

the movement of water out of cells

** depends on what solutes the membrane is permeable or not permeable to

ALL SOLUTES will move down their CONCENTRATION GRADIENT to reach equillibrium

Water has FOMO and wants to follow solute particles, and it can because:

• driving force = concentration gradient

• pathway = permeability of cell membrane

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