Osmosis and Cell Transport

Vocabulary flashcards covering core osmosis concepts, solutions, cellular reactions, and transport dynamics based on lecture slides.

Osmosis

A special type of diffusion defined as the movement of water through a semipermeable membrane from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

Solute

The substance that is being dissolved in a solution, such as salt or sugar.

Solvent

The substance that dissolves a solute, such as water.

Hypotonic Solution

A solution in which the concentration of solute outside the cell is less than inside the cell, causing water to move into the cell.

Hypertonic Solution

A solution in which the concentration of solute outside the cell is greater than inside the cell, causing water to move out of the cell.

Isotonic Solution

A solution in which the concentration of solute outside the cell is equal to the concentration of solute inside the cell, resulting in water entering and leaving the cell at equal rates.

Turgor Pressure

The pressure exerted against a plant cell wall when water enters the cell in a hypotonic solution, making the plant stiff.

Cytolysis

The swelling and bursting of an animal cell when placed in a hypotonic solution due to the absence of a cell wall.

Plasmolysis

The shriveling of an animal cell or the pulling away of the plasma membrane from the cell wall in a plant cell due to water loss in a hypertonic solution.

Equilibrium (in Osmosis)

The state achieved in an isotonic solution where water moves in and out of the cell at the same rate.

Passive Transport: Osmosis Principles

The principle that net water movement across a semipermeable membrane always proceeds toward hypertonic areas.