Movement into and out of Cells Flashcards
What is the BIOLOGICAL definition of diffusion
The net movement of particles down the concentration gradient
What is the concentration gradient
A pattern of diffusion from an area of HIGH -> LOW concentration
What are particles
Molecules, atoms or ions (
What is the rate of diffusion based on
Kinetic energy in the particles and particle size
Do larger substances diffuse faster or slower
Slower, as they are heavier and require more kinetic energy to move
How can kinetic energy be added/removed
By increasing/lowering the temperature
What is the net movement
The overall pattern of movement
Define Osmosis
The diffusion of water molecules through a partially permeable membrane
What is the water potential of a solution
The concentration of water molecules in an area
How does high water potential correspond to the concentration of other particles
The concentration of other particles is low (high water potential = low concentration)
How does low water potential correspond to the concentration of other particles
The concentration of other particles is high (low water potential = high concentration)
What is a water potential gradient
A pattern of osmosis from an area of HIGH -> LOW water potential
What is the water potential of a dilute solution
High
What is the concentration of a dilute solution
Low
What is the water potential of a concentrated solution
Low
What is the concentration of a concentrated solution
High (No Shit)
What happens after the water potential is balanced
Particles keep moving, but there is no further net movement
Now, what is the FULL definition of osmosis
The NET movement of water molecules from an area of HIGH -> LOW water potential through a partially permeable membrane
What happens when a cell is placed in a more concentrated solution than its insides
It will lose water through osmosis
What will happen to a plant cell if it loses water
It will go through plasmolysis, the cell membrane tearing away from the cell
What happens when a cell is placed in a less concentrated solution than its insides
It will gain water through osmosis
What might happen to an animal cell if it gains water
It might burst
What might happen to a plant cell if it gains water
It will become turgid, putting high pressure on the cell wall
What is active transport
The process of diffusion against a concentration gradient
