Movement in Cells – Revise

Osmosis

The movement of particles is a vital process and happens in various ways. Osmosis is similar to diffusion but has a couple of differences.

Again you should try to remember this text-book definition.

Osmosis is the diffusion of water through a partial permeable membrane.

Osmosis.jpg
The water moves to the right hand side as there is a lower concentration of water

partial permeable membrane is a membrane, barrier, that has holes in it to allow small molecules like water though it. So water, just as in diffusion, goes from high to low.

Osmosis will also happen with solutions that contain other things like sugar. Note that it is still the water that moves.

Concentrated solution – A solution that contains less water

Dilute solution – A solution that contains more water

Osmosis 2.jpg
In the first diagram the water moves to the left  as there is a lower concentration of water. The the second diagram the reverse happens. The water moves to the right. In the final diagram there is no net movement as the concentration is the same on each side.