Learn: Osmosis and Cell Transport Lab

Solute

Substance dissolved into a solvent to form a solution.

Solvent

A liquid, solid, or gas that dissolves other substances.

Osmosis

The movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane from high to low water concentration.

Universal Solvent

Water, due to its polarity, permanent dipole, and ability to form hydration shells.

Phospholipid Bilayer

Cell membrane structure with hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails.

Passive Transport

Movement of solutes along a concentration gradient requiring no cellular energy.

Facilitated Diffusion

Transport of larger or polar molecules using transmembrane proteins without energy.

Active Transport

Movement of solutes against the concentration gradient requiring ATP energy.

Isotonic Solution

Equal solute concentration inside and outside the cell with no net water movement.

Hypertonic Solution

Higher outside solute concentration causing water to leave the cell.

Hypotonic Solution

Lower outside solute concentration causing water to enter the cell.

Plasmolysis

Plant cell shrinkage in a hypertonic solution where the membrane pulls away from the cell wall.

Turgid

The ideal, stiff state of a plant cell in a hypotonic solution with high turgor pressure.

Hemolysis

The bursting of red blood cells when placed in a hypotonic solution.

Rate of Osmosis

Calculated as the slope (m) of the best-fit line (y = mx + b) in g/min.