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Osmosis definitions

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  • Osmosis
    Net movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from lower to higher solute concentration, aiming for equilibrium.
  • Semipermeable Membrane
    Barrier allowing only certain small molecules, like water, to pass while blocking larger solutes.
  • Solvent
    Substance, often water, that moves through membranes to balance solute concentrations.
  • Solute
    Ions or large molecules unable to cross semipermeable membranes, affecting water movement.
  • Equilibrium
    State where concentrations on both sides of a membrane are balanced, stopping net solvent flow.
  • Osmotic Pressure
    Force exerted by solvent on a membrane, counteracting further net movement once equilibrium is reached.
  • Tonicity
    Relative measure of solute concentration in solutions, determining water movement direction.
  • Hypotonic Solution
    Solution with lower solute concentration and osmotic pressure compared to another, causing cells to swell.
  • Isotonic Solution
    Solution with equal solute concentration and osmotic pressure as another, resulting in no net water movement.
  • Hypertonic Solution
    Solution with higher solute concentration and osmotic pressure than another, leading to cell shrinkage.
  • Hemolysis
    Swelling and bursting of red blood cells due to excessive water intake in a hypotonic environment.
  • Crenation
    Shriveling and dehydration of red blood cells caused by water loss in a hypertonic environment.
  • Red Blood Cell
    Cell type used to illustrate effects of different tonicities, such as swelling, shrinking, or stability.
  • Intravenous Solution
    Fluid administered into veins, which must match blood tonicity to prevent cell damage.