Cells

Diffusion and
Osmosis
Cells have
to control
what
leaves and
what
enters the
cytoplasm.
 Concentration Gradient
Water and solutes move
according to their
concentration gradient
 Everything naturally moves
away from where it is
concentrated and towards
where it is less concentrated
 This natural movement is called
Concentration gradients

Concentration gradients
form when there is a
difference in concentration
between two places
Diffusion takes place until
the concentration reaches
equilibrium
Diffusion naturally
tries to equalize
concentration of
Carbon dioxide naturally
diffuses out of animal
cells because animal cells
Movement of CO2 and
O2
 Oxygen naturally diffuses into animal
cells because they use up oxygen as
they turn food into energy
 Carbon dioxide builds up as cells use
the oxygen
 The concentration of oxygen outside
is higher, so the net movement of O2
is inward.
 The concentration of CO2 is higher
inside the cell and has a net
The cell membrane
does not stop the
diffusion of CO2,
O2, or water
molecules
CO2, O2, and H2O are
small molecules
they each move down their
individual concentration
gradients until equilibrium
is reached.
Salts and sugars cannot
get through the bilayer,
but water can
This makes the cell
membrane
semipermeable.
The movement of water
through a semipermeable
membrane that blocks
solutes from moving is
Osmosis is the
diffusion of water
through a
semipermeable
membrane
Osmosis

 Osmosis is used
by plants to lift
water upward.
All the plants
cells must do is
maintain a
higher solute
concentration
inside their cells.
Osmosis can pull
water into of a cell if
the cell is placed in an
environment with a
lower solute
concentration
Hypotonic Solutions

Hypotonic means lower

solute concentration
 animal cells can rupture
in hypotonic
environments
 plant cells are protected
from rupture by their
strong cell walls
Osmosis can also pull
water out of a cell if
the cell is placed in an
environment with a
higher solute
concentration
Hypertonic Solutions

Hypertonic means higher

concentration of solutes
 A cell placed in a hypertonic
environment will lose water and
shrink.
 Plant cells plasmolyze when placed
in very salty water.
Isotonic Solutions

Isotonic means balanced

 Cells in an isotonic environment
experience no net flow of water due
to osmosis.
 The water flowing in is balanced by
the water flowing out
Red Blood Cells
in a Range of
Summary

 Hypertonic = higher = dehydrating

environment, cells shrink
 Hypotonic = lower = bloating
environment, cells swell
 Isotonic = equal =homeostatic
environment, cells “happy”
Hypertonic, Hypotonic, and
Isotonic Examples
 Solution Examples

 Quick Osmosis Movie

Experiment Videos

 Iodine Ziplock Experiment

 Lettuce Experiment

 Egg Experiment