Diffusion and Osmosis Lecture Notes

Flashcards on key concepts related to diffusion, osmosis, tonicity, and related processes based on the lecture notes.

Diffusion

The passive movement of substances from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Osmosis

The passive movement of water across a differentially permeable membrane.

Tonicity

Refers to differing concentrations of solutes inside and outside of a cell.

Isotonic solution

A solution that has the same solute concentration as found within the cell, resulting in no net movement of water.

Hypertonic solution

A solution that has a higher solute concentration than that found within the cell, causing water to move out of the cell.

Hypotonic solution

A solution that has a lower solute concentration than that found within the cell, causing water to move into the cell.

Crenation

The process that occurs when red blood cells shrivel up in a hypertonic solution.

Hemolysis

The process that occurs when red blood cells swell and burst in a hypotonic solution.

Turgor pressure

The pressure exerted by the central vacuole in plant cells when they gain water in a hypotonic solution.

Plasmolysis

The process where central vacuoles in plant cells lose water when placed in a hypertonic solution.

Quantitative data

Data that represents numeric values or measurable quantities.

Qualitative data

Descriptive data that can be observed but not measured, such as the descriptions of data as limp or rigid.