Osmosis and Cell Effects Vocabulary

A collection of vocabulary flashcards defining osmosis, diffusion, solution types, and their effects on plant and animal cells.

Diffusion

The net movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Osmosis

The diffusion of water from a dilute solution to a concentrated solution through a partially permeable membrane.

Dilute solution

A solution containing a lot of water, or a high concentration of water.

Concentrated solution

A solution containing a low concentration of water, or not a lot of water.

Partially permeable membrane

A membrane that allows some molecules to pass through but not all molecules (for example, allowing water molecules to pass through but not sugar molecules).

Cytoplasm

The fluid inside cells that acts as a relatively concentrated solution containing a relatively low concentration of water.

Cell wall

A structure in a plant cell that prevents the cell from bursting when water moves into it by osmosis.

Turgid

The state of a plant cell when it becomes swollen as water moves into the cell by osmosis.

Flaccid

The state of a plant cell when it shrinks as water moves out of the cell by osmosis in a concentrated solution.