Osmosis (diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane)
Membrane X is permeable to water but not to protein
Which side has the highest concentration of protein?
Which side has the highest concentration of water?
Will this system ever reach equilibrium?
Osmosis
Equal concentrations of protein & water in Side A and Side B
Side A Side B Like other molecules, water follows the diffusion gradient.
Is protein concentration high or low in sides A/B?
When will this system reach equilibrium?
Isotonic Solutions
The movement of water into & out of living cells is vital to life processes. Ideally, cells are bathed in isotonic solutions
Concentration of solute molecules outside the cell is equal to the concentration of solute molecules inside the cell. There is no net change in water movement.
What would happen in an animal cell? Plant cell?
Hypotonic Solutions•Solutions in which the concentration of
solutes outside the cell is lower than that
found inside the cell.
•This means there is a higher concentration of water on the outside of the cell &
thus, water diffuses inward.
Cell swells/bursts•What would happen in an animal
cell? Plant cell?
Hypertonic Solutions•Solutions in which the concentration of solutes
outside the cell is greater than that found on the inside of the
cell.
•This means there is a lower concentration of
water on the outside, and thus, water diffuses
outward from the cell.
Cell shrinks•What would happen in an
animal cell? Plant cell?