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Diffusion and Osmosis
Diffusion is the random movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of
low concentration until they are evenly spread out. When the molecules are evenly distributed
throughout the space, they have reached equilibrium.
1 <http://www.biologycorner.com/resources/diffusion_red.JPG>
2 <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/Simple_Diffusion.png>
Unequal distribution
Osmosis
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Equilibrium
1.
Isotonic Solution
2. Hypotonic Solutions
The prefix hypo- means less. In this case there are
fewer solute molecules outside the cell, and more solute
inside the cell. Since water moves toward an area of
high solute concentration, the water moves into the cell.
The cell will swell.
3 <http://www.biologycorner.com/resources/isotonic.gif>
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In plants, the cell wall prevents the cell from bursting when water enters. In animal cells,
the cell may be in danger of bursting because it does not have a cell wall to limit its
expansion.
3. Hypertonic Solutions
The prefix hyper means more. In hypertonic
solutions, there are more solute molecules outside the
cell, which causes the water to move out of the cell. In
plants, this loss of water causes wilting. In animals, the
cells also shrink. In both plants and animals, the cells
may die.4
It is because of this movement of water out of the cells
that drinking sea water increases the rate of dehydration,
because adding the salt to your body causes water to move out of the cells instead of
into them.
4 <http://www.biologycorner.com/resources/hypertonic.gif>