D2.3 (Water Potential)

Solution

a homogeneous mixture where one or more substances (solutes) are dissolved within another substance (solvent)

Solvent

a liquid substance that dissolves another substance (the solute) to form a solution

Solute

any substance dissolved in a liquid to create a solution

Solvation

the interaction of a solvent with the dissolved solute. It involves reorganizing solvent and solute molecules into solvation complexes.

Polar Molecules

a molecule or structure that has an uneven distribution of electrical charge, creating a partial positive end and a partial negative end

Hydrogen Bonds

a type of chemical bond where a hydrogen atom, covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom (like nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine), forms a weak electrostatic attraction with another electronegative atom

Osmosis

the movement of water molecules across a partially permeable membrane from an area of high water potential (low solute concentration) to an area of low water potential (high solute concentration).

Hypertonic Solution

a solution that has a higher concentration of solutes compared to another solution, typically the solution inside a cell

Hypotonic Solution

a solution that has a lower concentration of solutes compared to another solution, typically the solution inside a cell

Isotonic Solution

a solution that has the same concentration of solutes compared to another solution, typically the solution inside a cell

Standard Deviation

a measure of how spread out a set of data values are around the mean (average)

Standard Error

measures the accuracy of a sample mean as an estimate of the population mean. It quantifies the variability of sample means taken from the same population

Crenation

the shriveling and wrinkling of animal cells, particularly red blood cells, when placed in a hypertonic (high solute) solution

Cytolysis

occurs when a cell bursts due to an osmotic imbalance that has caused excess water to diffuse into the cell

Contractile Vacuole

a specialized organelle found in certain single

Osmoregulation

the process by which organisms maintain the balance of water and dissolved substances (ions, salts) within their bodies, particularly within their cells, despite changes in the surrounding environment

Plasmolysis

the shrinking of a plant cell's cytoplasm (& cell membrane) away from its cell wall due to a loss of water

Turgor Pressure

the hydrostatic pressure exerted by the fluid inside a cell against its cell wall

Turgid

a cell or tissue that is swollen with water, typically due to the uptake of fluid through osmosis. This swelling creates a pressure against the cell wall, contributing to the firmness and rigidity of the cell

Flaccid

a state where a cell or tissue is limp, soft, and lacking turgor pressure

Intravenous Fluids

specially formulated liquids that are injected into a vein to prevent or treat dehydration. They are isotonic.

Water Potential

quantifies the tendency of water to move from one area to another due to osmosis, gravity, mechanical pressure and matrix effects such as capillary action

Solute Potential

a measure of the potential energy of water in a solution due to the presence of dissolved solutes. Is genrally negative

Pressure Potential

the component of water potential due to hydrostatic pressure exerted by the cell's internal fluid against the cell wall