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<span class="mlw_qmn_new_question">1. What is osmosis?</span><span class="mlw_qmn_question qsm_remove_bold"></span>
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<span class="mlw_qmn_new_question">6. Osmosis refers to the movement of ___ across the selectively-permeable membrane</span><span class="mlw_qmn_question qsm_remove_bold"></span>
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<span class="mlw_qmn_new_question">9. Which of the following statements about osmosis is false?</span><span class="mlw_qmn_question qsm_remove_bold"></span>
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Dictionary > Osmosis
OSMOSIS
Osmosis
n., plural: osmoses
[ɒzˈməʊsɪs]
Definition: net movement of water molecules across the membrane from areas of
higher to lower water potential
Table of Contents
* Osmosis Definition
* How Osmosis Works
* Osmotic Types of Solutions
* Isotonic
* Hypotonic
* Hypertonic
* Examples of Osmosis
* Osmosis in animal cells
* Osmosis in plant cells
* Quiz
* Send Your Results (Optional)
* Further Reading
* References
Osmosis is the net movement of solvent molecules through a semipermeable
membrane. It is similar to diffusion as the movement is downhill, meaning from
higher to lower concentration. In osmosis though, the movement has to occur
across a semipermeable or selectively-permeable membrane. Without this element,
it cannot be called osmosis.
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While diffusion is often depicted as the net movement of solutes between two
solutions, osmosis is about the net movement of the solvent molecules (not the
solute) (solvent such as water molecules). The differing concentration of water
molecules between the two sides of the membrane is what drives the water to move
so as to equalize the concentrations of the two areas.
OSMOSIS DEFINITION
In biology, osmosis is defined as the net movement of water molecules through a
biological membrane (e.g. cell membrane) from an area of higher to an area of
lower water potential. Other definitions of osmosis are as follows:
1. The process of a solvent diffusing through a semipermeable membrane from an
area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration
2. The tendency of water to flow from a hypotonic solution (low concentration
of dissolved substances) to a hypertonic solution (higher concentration of
dissolved substances) across a semipermeable membrane
In chemistry, osmosis is defined similarly. It is the passage of a pure solvent
from a solution of lesser to one of greater concentration of solutes when the
two solutions are separated by a membrane that selectively prevents the passage
of solute molecules while allowing the solvent molecules to pass through.
Etymology: The term osmosis is a Latinized form of now obsolete osmose. A
derived word is osmotic, which is defined as pertaining to or of the nature of
osmosis. Thus, osmotic pressure, for instance, is a pressure that arises due to
or is relevant to osmosis.
Watch this vid about osmosis and water potential:
HOW OSMOSIS WORKS
A schematic diagram showing how osmosis works
Water molecules tend to move, and they move downhill, i.e. from an area of high
water concentration (or fewer solutes) to an area of low water concentration (or
greater solutes). If there is no net movement of water, it cannot be called
osmosis. It should also incorporate a semipermeable membrane to move across.
Without it, the process is only a case of diffusion and not osmosis.
Since water molecules are polar molecules, they need channel proteins to move
down their concentration gradient. These channel proteins are embedded in the
cell membrane and provide a hydrophilic passageway through which water can move
across.
What drives the water molecules to move is the osmotic (pressure) gradient, i.e.
differences in osmotic pressures between the two solutions. The measure of the
relative tendency of water to move from one area to another is referred to as
water potential. It is commonly represented by the Greek letter Ψ (Psi).
Solutions that have different tonicities will cause a net flow of water across
the cell membrane.
Note it!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question: How does osmosis occur?
Answer: For osmosis to occur, these elements should be present:
1. Net downhill movement of water molecules
2. A selectively-permeable membrane
3. Osmotic gradient
OSMOTIC TYPES OF SOLUTIONS
In this diagram, the cell is shown how osmosis and the tonicity of solutions
affected the cell.
* The cell in hypertonic solution resulted in the efflux of water leaving the
cell to shrink.
* In an isotonic solution, the cell apparently remains the same since the
amount of water molecules leaving the cell is about the same as the amount of
water entering the cell.
* In a hypotonic solution, the cell swelled from the influx of water.
A solution is comprised essentially of the solute (a substance to be dissolved)
and the solvent (the component that dissolves the solutes). The concentrations
of the constituents of the two solutions shall determine if a solution is
isotonic, hypotonic, or hypertonic as compared to another solution.
* ISOTONIC
An isotonic solution is a solution wherein the amount of solutes is basically
the same as the number of solutes in another solution. For instance, a cell that
is isotonic to the outside solution means that both the cell’s intracellular
fluid and the surrounding fluid will have equal osmotic pressure and the same
water potential. In this case, there will be no net movement of water molecules
between the cell and the outside fluid.
* HYPOTONIC
A hypotonic solution is a solution that has lower osmotic pressure (or has fewer
solutes) than another solution to which it is compared. In this case, water
moves toward the area with less water concentration or towards the more
concentrated region so as to dilute the solution. For instance, when the fluid
surrounding the cell is hypotonic, the water will move across the membrane
toward the more concentrated solution, which is inside the cell.
* HYPERTONIC
A hypertonic solution is a solution that appears to be the opposite of a
hypotonic solution. A hypertonic solution will have more solutes and less water
than the other solution. If a cell is immersed in hypertonic solution water will
leave the cell to dilute the solution outside.
EXAMPLES OF OSMOSIS
Here are examples of osmosis in animal and plant cells.
* OSMOSIS IN ANIMAL CELLS
In biological systems, osmosis is essential since many biological membranes are
semipermeable, and it leads to different physiological effects. For example,
when animal cells are exposed to a hypertonic surrounding (or lower water
concentration) the water will leave the cells causing the cells to shrink. This
condition is referred to as crenation. Conversely, when the animal cells are
placed in a hypotonic surrounding (or higher water concentration), the water
molecules will move into the cells causing them to swell. If osmosis continues
and becomes excessive the cells will eventually burst.
* OSMOSIS IN PLANT CELLS
The cell bursting due to too much water influx does not happen in plant cells.
Plants are able to counter excessive osmosis through their cell walls and
vacuoles. The cell wall exerts osmotic pressure that stabilizes the plant cell.
In fact, osmotic pressure is what makes plants stay upright. The large vacuole
inside the plant cell also helps through osmoregulation, a regulatory process
where water potential is regulated so that the osmotic pressure inside the cell
is kept within the optimal range.
The plant cells, though, are not protected by water efflux. When a plant cell is
placed in a hypertonic surrounding, the cell wall cannot prevent the cell from
losing water. This lead to cell shrinking or the cell becoming flaccid.
Take the Osmosis Biology Quiz!
QUIZ
Choose the best answer.
1. What is osmosis?
The movement of water molecules across the membrane
The movement of solutes across the membrane
The diffusion of molecules due to a concentration gradient
2. In a salt solution, osmosis is about the movement of ...
Salt
Water
Biological membrane
3. Which type of solution will an animal cell swell?
Hypotonic
Hypertonic
Isotonic
4. Which type of solution will a plant cell shrink?
Hypotonic
Hypertonic
Isotonic
5. Plant cell structure that exerts osmotic pressure to stabilize cell structure
Vacuole
Chloroplast
Cell wall
6. Osmosis refers to the movement of ___ across the selectively-permeable
membrane
solvent molecules
solute molecules
any molecule
7. Which of the following is not required for osmosis to occur?
Cell membrane
Osmotic gradient
ATP
8. Which of the following is true of osmosis?
Water molecules move from an area with more solutes to an area of fewer solutes
Water molecules move towards the area with more water molecules
Water molecules move downhill across the membrane due to osmotic gradient.
9. Which of the following statements about osmosis is false?
Osmotic gradient drives water molecules to move.
A cell in a hypotonic solution will shrink due to the resulting efflux of water.
Water molecules will not move between the cell and the outside fluid when the
cell is in an isotonic solution.
10. How is osmosis different from diffusion?
Osmosis is a process that makes use of ATP whereas diffusion does not.
Osmosis can only take place when a selectively permeable membrane is involved.
The movement is downhill in diffusion whereas in osmosis it is uphill.
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FURTHER READING
* Diffusion
* Water
* Osmotic pressure
* Solution
REFERENCES
1. Biology-Online Editors. (2014, May 12). Diffusion and osmosis. Retrieved
from Biology-Online Dictionary Biology-Online Dictionary website:
https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/diffusion#Diffusion-and-osmosis
2. Biology-Online Editors. (2014, May 12). Turgor pressure and osmosis.
Retrieved from Biology-Online Dictionary Biology-Online Dictionary website:
https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/turgor-pressure#Turgor-pressure-and-osmosis
3. Biology-Online Editors. (2014, May 12). Concentration gradient and osmosis.
Retrieved from Biology-Online Dictionary Biology-Online Dictionary website:
https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/concentration-gradient#Concentration-gradient-and-osmosis
4. Biology-Online Editors. (2014, May 12). Passive transport. Retrieved from
Biology-Online Dictionary Biology-Online Dictionary website:
https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/passive-transport
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