osmosis

Osmosis

The diffusion of water from a dilute solution to a concentrated solution, through a partially permeable membrane

Diffusion

The movement of substances from a higher concentration to a lower concentration

Concentration gradient

The difference in concentration of a substance

Partially permeable membrane

A membrane which allows some substances through but not others

Dilute solution

A solution that contains low amounts of solutes such as sugar or salt, but has higher amounts of a solvent such as water

Higher concentration of water

A solution containing more water molecules in relation to another solution, can also be described as a more dilute solution in terms of solute concentration

Concentrated solution

A solution that contains high amounts of solutes such as sugar or salt, which results in lower amounts of a solvent such as water

Lower concentration of water

A solution containing fewer water molecules in relation to another solution, can also be described as a more concentrated solution in terms of solute concentration

Solute

A dissolved substance such as salt or sugar

Solvent

A solution or substance that is able to dissolve other substances

Turgor

When water has moved into plant tissue by osmosis and the vacuoles are full, the plant cell does not burst when turgid because of its cell wall

Plasmolysis

When water has moved out of plant tissue by osmosis and the vacuoles are empty

Isotonic solution

Where the solute concentration is equal inside and outside of the cell

Hypertonic solution

Where the solute concentration is higher outside of the cell than inside the cell

Hypotonic solution

Where the solute concentration is lower outside of the cell than inside the cell

Animal cells in hypertonic and hypotonic solutions

Animal cells will increase in size and burst in hypotonic solutions, animal cells will decrease in size and shrivel in hypertonic solutions

Plant cells in hypertonic and hypotonic solutions

Plant cells will increase in size and become turgid in hypotonic solutions, plant cells will decrease in size and become plasmolysis in hypertonic solutions