Cell Membrane and Osmosis Concepts

These flashcards cover key concepts related to osmosis and the properties of solutions as they relate to cell membranes.

What is osmosis?

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.

What does it mean when we say the plasma membrane is selectively permeable?

It means that the plasma membrane allows certain molecules to pass through while restricting others.

Define hypertonic solution.

A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell, causing the cell to lose water and potentially shrink.

Define isotonic solution.

An isotonic solution has the same concentration of solutes as the inside of the cell, resulting in no net movement of water in or out of the cell.

Define hypotonic solution.

A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell, leading to water moving into the cell and potentially causing it to swell.