Diffusion and Osmosis Concepts

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts about diffusion and osmosis, focusing on definitions and relationships between terms relevant to cellular processes.

percent solutions

Expressed as a percentage, it defines how much solute is in a certain amount of solution.

selectively permeable

A barrier that lets certain things pass while blocking others.

solute

The substance that is dissolved in a solution.

solution

A mixture where one substance (solute) is completely dissolved in another (solvent).

solvent

The liquid that dissolves a substance to make a solution.

thermal energy

Energy that comes from heat; related to the motion of particles inside materials.

tonicity

The concentration of solutes in a solution compared to another.

diffusion

The movement of molecules from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration.

osmosis

The movement of water through a semipermeable membrane from a region of low solute concentration to high solute concentration.

Brownian Movement

Random movement of tiny particles when they are suspended in a fluid like water.

dialysis tubing

A thin, flexible tube made from a special material that acts like a filter.

equilibrium

A state in which concentrations of solute are balanced and stable.

hydrophilic

Substances that mix well with water or dissolve in it.

hydrophobic

Substances that repel water and do not mix with it.

hypertonic

A solution with more solutes and less water compared to another solution.

hypotonic

A solution with less solute and more water compared to another solution.

isotonic

Two solutions that have the same amount of solute and water.

kinetic energy

The energy of movement associated with the motion of particles.

molarity (M)

A way to measure the concentration of a solution, indicating how much solute is dissolved per liter.

net movement

The overall direction in which particles move when they travel from one area to another.

osmolarity

A measure of how many particles are dissolved in a solution per liter.

aquaporin

A special type of protein found in cell membranes that facilitates the transport of water.

osmotically active substance (OAS)

Something dissolved in water that affects osmosis because it cannot pass freely through a membrane.

Concentration

The amount of a substance in a defined space or volume.

thermal energy increase effect

As thermal energy increases, the motion of molecules becomes more vigorous.

dialysis treatment

A method to separate small solutes from larger molecules using a semipermeable barrier.

solute and solvent relationship

A solute is the substance that is dissolved, while the solvent is the medium in which it dissolves.