Osmosis

What is osmosis by definition?

The movement of liquids from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration through a semipermeable membrane.

How does osmosis differ to diffusion?

Because osmosis involves the semipermeable membrane that liquids encounter rather than free flow. Osmosis occurs most often in cells.

What is a real-life example of osmosis?

Root hair cells use osmosis to draw in water in order to sustain photosynthesis.

Red blood cells require an equivalent ratio of water concentration both internal and external to avoid bursting (too much water in) or shrivelling (too much water out). Osmosis keeps them properly hydrated and functional.

What is an example of an experiment that displays osmosis?

The potato and water experiment.

By placing equivalently-sized pieces of potato (weigh them beforehand) in different concentrations of salt/sugar water, osmosis can be seen.

Water with a lower concentration of salt/sugar will increase the mass of the potato as the water is flowing in whereas water with a higher concentration will decrease the mass as the water would be flowing out as per the rules of osmosis.