7 Questions
What is the definition of osmosis?
The movement of water molecules from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration through a selectively permeable membrane.
What happens to a cell in a hypertonic solution?
The cell shrinks.
What is the term for a solution that has the same concentration of solutes as the cell?
Isotonic
What is the purpose of dialysis in patients with kidney failure?
To remove waste products from the blood
What happens to a cell in a hypotonic solution if excessive water enters the cell?
The cell ruptures.
Why is osmosis used in food preservation?
To reduce the water content of the food
What is an example of a medical treatment that uses osmosis?
Treatment of edema
Study Notes
Definition
- Osmosis: the movement of water molecules from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration through a selectively permeable membrane.
Types of Osmosis
- Isotonic: when the concentration of solutes is equal on both sides of the membrane.
- Hypotonic: when the concentration of solutes is higher outside the cell than inside.
- Hypertonic: when the concentration of solutes is higher inside the cell than outside.
Effects of Osmosis
- Cell swelling: in a hypotonic solution, water enters the cell, causing it to swell.
- Cell shrinkage: in a hypertonic solution, water leaves the cell, causing it to shrink.
- Cell lysis: in a hypotonic solution, excessive water entry can cause cell rupture.
Applications of Osmosis
- Dialysis: used to remove waste products from the blood in patients with kidney failure.
- Food preservation: osmosis is used to preserve fruits and vegetables by soaking them in a sugar or salt solution to reduce water content.
- Medical treatments: osmosis is used in some medical treatments, such as in the treatment of edema (swelling).
Osmosis
- Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration through a selectively permeable membrane.
Types of Osmosis
- Isotonic solutions have equal solute concentrations on both sides of the membrane, resulting in no net water movement.
- Hypotonic solutions have a higher solute concentration outside the cell, causing water to enter the cell.
- Hypertonic solutions have a higher solute concentration inside the cell, causing water to leave the cell.
Effects of Osmosis on Cells
- Cell swelling occurs when a cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, causing water to enter the cell and increase its volume.
- Cell shrinkage occurs when a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, causing water to leave the cell and decrease its volume.
- Cell lysis occurs when a cell in a hypotonic solution takes in too much water, causing it to rupture.
Applications of Osmosis
- Dialysis uses osmosis to remove waste products from the blood in patients with kidney failure by filtering the blood through a selectively permeable membrane.
- Osmosis is used in food preservation to reduce water content in fruits and vegetables by soaking them in a sugar or salt solution.
- Osmosis has medical applications, including the treatment of edema (swelling) by shifting fluids and reducing water content.
Understand the concept of osmosis, its types including isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic, and their effects on cells.
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