5 Questions
What is the force known as the net movement of water out of or into a cell driven by differences in solute concentration?
Osmotic pressure.
How does osmotic pressure affect an animal cell in a hypertonic solution?
It causes the cell to shrink.
Why do cells surrounded by fresh water tend to swell?
Water moves quickly into the cell.
What prevents cells in large organisms from bursting when in contact with fresh water?
Most cells are bathed in isotonic fluids.
How do some cells, like bacteria and plant cells, prevent themselves from expanding under osmotic pressure?
They are surrounded by tough walls.
Study Notes
Osmosis and Cell Environment
- Osmosis is the net movement of water out of or into a cell driven by differences in solute concentration.
Effects of Osmotic Pressure
- In a hypertonic solution, osmotic pressure causes an animal cell to shrink as water leaves the cell.
- In a hypotonic solution, cells surrounded by fresh water tend to swell as water enters the cell.
Cellular Protection Mechanisms
- A cell wall prevents cells in large organisms from bursting when in contact with fresh water.
- Some cells, like bacteria and plant cells, have a cell wall that prevents them from expanding under osmotic pressure.
Learn about osmotic pressure in cells, and how it affects the movement of water in different types of solutions. Explore the concept of hypertonic and hypotonic solutions, and their effects on animal cells.
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