Science

Permeability

The ability of a membrane to allow certain substances to pass through.

Selectively permeable

Refers to membranes, such as those in plant and animal cells, that allow only certain substances to enter and leave the cell.

Solutions

Mixtures where one substance is evenly distributed within another substance.

Solutes

Smaller components or particles that are dissolved into a solvent in a solution.

Solvent

A substance that dissolves a solute in a solution.

Contraction

The amount of a substance present in a defined space.

Concentration gradients

Differences in the concentration of substances that cells perceive as "thirst" or "hunger."

Passive transport

One of the main types of cell transport that does not require energy.

Active transport

One of the main types of cell transport that requires energy.

Hypertonic Solution

A solution with a high concentration of solute outside the cell, causing water to move out of the cell and potentially leading to cell shrinkage or death.

Hypotonic Solution

A solution with a higher concentration of solute inside the cell, causing water to move into the cell and potentially leading to cell swelling or bursting.

Isotonic Solution

A solution where the concentration of solute is equal on both sides of the cell membrane, resulting in no net movement of water across the membrane.