>» 4 Describe how your investigation has modelled the process of osmosis.

5 Outline any limitations of your model.

6 Discuss improvements that could be made to your model of osmosis.

EXees
Write a conclusion to link your results to the aim of the investigation.

A solution is formed when a solute dissolves in solvent.

KEY CONCEPTS

A concentrated solution has a high concentration of solute and a low concentration of water.
e@

A dilute solution has a low concentration of solute and a high concentration of water.
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Osmosis is the process by which water moves from a region of high concentration of water
eo

(dilute —- low solute) to a region of low concentration of water (concentrated — high solute).
Osmosis requires no energy input.
e The more water that moves across the membrane, the higher the osmotic pressure created.
e Isotonic — fluids inside and outside a cell are of equal solute concentration — no net water
movement.
e Hypertonic - a solution of higher solute concentration (lower water concentration) that
surrounds a cell - net movement of water molecules will be out of the cell.
e Hypotonic—a solution of lower solute concentration (higher water concentration) that
surrounds a cell- net movement of water molecules will be into the cell.

Osmosis in animal cells

The cells of unicellular eukaryotes are surrounded only by a cell membrane. Hypertonic solutions, such
as fresh water, pose a problem because water moving into animal cells by osmosis can cause the cell to
swell and eventually burst the cell membrane, killing the organism.
Cells in most animals are not directly exposed to the external environment and are bathed in isotonic
extracellular fluid. This means that cells can function efficiently because water diffuses equally in both
directions, resulting in no net movement of water into or out of cells. The water concentration in animal
cells needs to be kept constant to coordinate biochemical reactions.

Osmosis in plant cells

Unlike animal cells, plant cells will not burst when soaked in fresh water (hypotonic solution), even
though water moves into the cells by osmosis.
Plant cells usually have large, fluid-filled vacuoles and firm, semipermeable cell walls that surround the
cell membrane. Plant cell vacuoles contain cell sap that has a high concentration of solutes and therefore
a low concentration of water. When a hypotonic solution surrounds a plant cell, water molecules move
by osmosis into the vacuole. This causes the vacuole to swell and pushes the cell membrane outwards
against the cell wall. The tough cell wall prevents the cell from bursting. When the cell wall stretches as
much as possible, no more water can enter and the cell is said to be turgid (Fig. 3.13a). In this state, the
osmotic pressure inside the cell is equal to the opposing pressure exerted by the cell wall.
Ifthe plant cells were to be placed into a hypertonic solution, the water in the cell would leave the cell
by osmosis, the vacuole would shrink and cause the cell membrane to move away from the cell wall ina
process called plasmolysis (Fig. 3.13b).

407281 CHAPTER 3 » CEl FUNCTION va

 Water enters vacuole
Adapted from Biology: Prinicples & Processes by Roberts, Reiss & Monger (Nelson Thornes Ltd 2000)

by osmosis
Vacuole expands,
© Cell placed in external cytoplasm pushed outwards
solution whose solute
concentration is lower
than that of the cell sap

Cellulose wall Full turgor

Cytoplasm

Vacuole
containing
cell sap
Water leaves
Partially turgid vacuole by osmosis
plant cell

Vacuole shrinks,
© Cell placed in external cytoplasm moves inwards
solution whose solute
concentration is higher
than that of the cell sap

Full plasmolysis
FIGURE 3.13 The effect of immersing a partially turgid plant cell in a pure water (hypotonic solution) and b a high solute concentration (hypertonic solution)

CHECK YOUR
TMS See Draw a generalised diagram to represent a cell. On this diagram, indicate with arrows going into the cell
the substances that a cell requires. Also indicate the wastes that have to be removed from the cell, using
arrows pointing out of the cell.
2 Distinguish between a permeable membrane and a selectively permeable membrane.
3. a_ Identify and outline three characteristics of molecules that affect the permeability of the cell membrane
to them.
b |Indicate whether each of the following substances can move easily through the cell membrane or not.
Justify each of your answers.
i Neutral molecules such as carbon dioxide and oxygen gas
ii Sodium and potassium ions
iii, Water and ethanol
iv Large molecules such as proteins
4 Asugar solution is a mixture of sugar and water.
Identify the a solute and b solvent.
5 a Outline the process of diffusion.
b_ Identify two factors that could increase the rate of diffusion.
6 a Identify the substances that are able to move across the cell membrane by diffusion.
b Describe the process of facilitated diffusion.
c¢ Which substances move across the cell membrane using this process?
7 a Describe the process of osmosis.
b What is the relationship between diffusion and osmosis?
c Define the terms ‘isotonic; ‘hypotonic’ and ‘hypertonic’

78 MODULE ONE » CELLS AS THE BASIS OF LIFE