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May 18
Osmosis is the movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of higher water concentration to an area of lower water concentration. This process helps to maintain the balance of water and solutes in living organisms and plays a crucial role in various biological processes.
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Google Gemini AI
May 18
Osmosis is a physical process in which a solvent (usually water) moves across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. This movement aims to equalize the solute concentrations on both sides of the membrane.
Key Features of Osmosis:
- Semipermeable membrane: It allows the solvent (water) to pass through but restricts the passage of larger solute molecules.
- Concentration gradient: There is a difference in solute concentration between the two sides of the membrane.
- Solvent movement: Water molecules move from the lower solute concentration side (hypotonic solution) to the higher solute concentration side (hypertonic solution) to dilute the solution and achieve equilibrium.
Effects of Osmosis:
- Cell turgidity: If the external solution is hypotonic, water enters the cell, causing it to swell and become turgid.
- Cell plasmolysis: If the external solution is hypertonic, water moves out of the cell, causing it to shrink and become plasmolyzed.
- Isotonic solution: When the external solution has the same solute concentration as the cell, there is no net movement of water, and the cell remains in its normal state.
Significance of Osmosis:
Osmosis is a crucial process for living organisms:
- It maintains the water balance in cells, tissues, and organs.
- It helps regulate blood pressure.
- It transports nutrients and waste products across cell membranes.
Applications of Osmosis:
- Water filtration: Osmosis is used in water purification systems to remove impurities from water.
- Food preservation: Pickling and canning involve the use of osmotic pressure to remove water from foods and prevent spoilage.
- Medical applications: Dialysis uses osmotic principles to purify blood in patients with kidney failure.
Key Features of Osmosis:
- Semipermeable membrane: It allows the solvent (water) to pass through but restricts the passage of larger solute molecules.
- Concentration gradient: There is a difference in solute concentration between the two sides of the membrane.
- Solvent movement: Water molecules move from the lower solute concentration side (hypotonic solution) to the higher solute concentration side (hypertonic solution) to dilute the solution and achieve equilibrium.
Effects of Osmosis:
- Cell turgidity: If the external solution is hypotonic, water enters the cell, causing it to swell and become turgid.
- Cell plasmolysis: If the external solution is hypertonic, water moves out of the cell, causing it to shrink and become plasmolyzed.
- Isotonic solution: When the external solution has the same solute concentration as the cell, there is no net movement of water, and the cell remains in its normal state.
Significance of Osmosis:
Osmosis is a crucial process for living organisms:
- It maintains the water balance in cells, tissues, and organs.
- It helps regulate blood pressure.
- It transports nutrients and waste products across cell membranes.
Applications of Osmosis:
- Water filtration: Osmosis is used in water purification systems to remove impurities from water.
- Food preservation: Pickling and canning involve the use of osmotic pressure to remove water from foods and prevent spoilage.
- Medical applications: Dialysis uses osmotic principles to purify blood in patients with kidney failure.
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