Osmosis

  • Molecules that can diffuse through the cell membrane:

    • Steroids (because they are lipid-soluble)

    • Uncharged (neutral) molecules

    • Small molecules

  • Molecules that cannot diffuse across membrane:

    • Ions (charged molecules)!!!!!

    • Large molecules

  • Temperature and Molecular weight affects diffusion rate:

    • Cooler water temperature slows diffusion (molecules move slower)

    • Warmer water temperature speeds up diffusion (molecules move faster)

    • Heavy molecules diffuse more slowly

  • Diffusion:

    • Solutes move from high concentration to low concentration until equilibrium is reached

    • Diffusion does not require energy (ATP) — it is passive

    • Water is a universal solvent

  • Osmosis is the movement of water 

    • Which way is the water moving (in or out of the cell)? 

      • Osmosis in kidneys (hypertonic environment, hypotonic environment, isotonic environment)

      • Osmosis in plant cells (hypertonic environment, hypotonic environment, isotonic environment)

      • Red blood cells in saline (hypertonic environment, hypotonic environment, isotonic environment)

  • Active transport needs energy from the cell

  • Hemolysis is when Red Blood Cells are placed in a hypotonic environment and water moves into the cells causing them to burst

  • Plasmolysis is when Plant cells are placed in a hypertonic environment and water moves out of the cell causing them to shrink