Osmosis and Concentration Gradients
This page delves deeper into the concepts of diffusion and osmosis, focusing on concentration gradients and their effects.
The page begins by explaining how the concentration gradient affects diffusion rates. It emphasizes that diffusion occurs down the concentration gradient, from areas of high concentration to low concentration.
Highlight: The bigger the difference in concentration, the steeper the concentration gradient and the faster the rate of diffusion.
An example of diffusion in respiration is provided:
Example: Oxygen needed for respiration passes from the air in lungs into red blood cells through cell membranes by diffusion, moving down the concentration gradient from high to low oxygen concentration.
The page then transitions to discussing osmosis, introducing key terminology:
Vocabulary: A dilute solution contains a high concentration of solvent (e.g., water) and a low concentration of solute (e.g., sugar). A concentrated solution has the opposite composition.
The fundamental principle of osmosis is explained:
Definition: In osmosis, water moves from a dilute solution (high concentration of water molecules) to a concentrated solution (fewer water molecules in a given volume) across the membrane of a cell.
This information provides a solid foundation for understanding the mechanisms of diffusion and osmosis in cells.
