How do water molecules diffuse
From area of high concentration to low concentration
The concentration of water vs solute in aqueous solution
Water decreases when solute increases, vise versa ( since the solute takes up space that would otherwise be full of water.
Osmosis
The diffusion of water across a cell membrane
The direction water moves depends on
The concentration gradient across the membrane
In an aqueous solution water tends to diffuse either into or out of cells. Why
Because the cytoplasmic membrane is permeable to water but impermeable to polar solutes dissolved in the water.
Tonicity
Refers to the concentration of solute compared to inside of the cell
a solution hypertonic to the cell
High solute/ low water
The effect of hypertonic solution on a cell
cell: low solute /high water
The water would diffuse out the cell would shrink
Hypotonic
Low solute/High water
The effect of hypotonic solution on a cell
high solute/ low water
Water will diffuse in and possibly burst
