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Understanding osmosis through diagrams and practicals

Cell biology • Transport in cells

Key concepts

What you'll likely be quizzed about

  • Osmosis involves the net diffusion of water from a region of higher water concentration to a region of lower water concentration across a partially permeable membrane.
  • Water movement occurs passively and in response to a concentration gradient, resulting in a net flow despite individual molecules moving randomly.
  • When the solution outside a cell has fewer solute particles (higher water concentration), water enters the cell; conversely, when the concentration of solute is higher outside the cell, water exits.
  • No net movement occurs when solute concentrations are equal.

Flashcards

Test your knowledge with interactive flashcards

Explain why blotting tissue before massing is essential in the practical.

Click to reveal answer

Blotting removes surface liquid to ensure mass measurements reflect internal water content only.

Key notes

Important points to keep in mind

Osmosis involves passive movement of water through a partially permeable membrane.

Diagrams should be labeled with membrane, direction of water flow, and solute concentrations.

Blot samples before and after incubation to prevent inflated mass readings.

Use percentage change to compare samples with different starting masses: % change = (Δmass ÷ start mass) × 100.

Plot concentration on x-axis and percentage mass change on y-axis, showing both gains and losses.

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