Y10 Transport Methods In Cells

Question 1

What is diffusion?

Answer 1

The passive movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration across a semi-permeable membrane

Question 2

What is osmosis?

Answer 2

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from a high concentration to a lower concentration across a semi- permeable membrane. Osmosis is a passive process so does not require energy.

Question 3

What is active transport?

Answer 3

The movement of particles from an area of low concentration to high concentration. This requires energy in the form of ATP.

Question 4

What would happen to a cell placed in pure water?

Answer 4

The solution would be hypotonic, there would be a higher water potential outside the cell than inside it, so the water molecules would move into the cell by osmosis, causing the cell (cytoplasm) to swell and become turgid

Question 5

What would happen to a cell placed into a very concentrated solution?

Answer 5

It would be a hypertonic solution, there would be more water inside the cell than outside it, so the water molecules would move out of the cell by osmosis, causing the cell (cytoplasm) to become plasmolysed

Question 6

What would happen if a cell is placed in a balanced solution?

Answer 6

It would be isotonic - equal concentration of water inside and outside cell - no osmosis would occur

Question 7

Until when does osmosis occur?

Answer 7

It occurs until an equilibrium is reached (when there is an equal concentration of water inside and outside the cell)