Osmosis and Water Potential

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to osmosis and water potential in cells.

Osmosis

The net movement of water through a selectively permeable membrane from an area of high water potential to a region of low water potential until equilibrium is reached.

Water potential

The ability water has to move across a membrane from an area of high water potential to an area of low water potential as a result of kinetic energy.

kPa

Unit of pressure used to measure water potential.

Highest possible water potential

Pure water

Hypertonic solution

A solution with a higher concentration of solutes and a lower water potential compared to another solution.

Hypotonic solution

A solution that is more dilute and has a higher water potential compared to another solution.

Endosmosis

The movement of water into cells.

Exosmosis

The loss of water from a cell, occurring when the cell is in a hypertonic solution.

Turgor Pressure

Pressure exerted by the cell contents on the cell wall in plant cells.

Wall Pressure

Pressure exerted by the cell wall on the cell contents in plant cells.

Dynamic Equilibrium

A state where the water potential of the cell equals the water potential of the solution, stopping osmosis.

Flaccid Cell

A cell with a turgor pressure of 0 kPa.

Plasmolysed Cell

A cell where the cell membrane has pulled away from the cell wall due to water loss.