Osmosis and Plant Transport

This page introduces the concept of osmosis and its role in plant transport.

Osmosis is defined as the movement of water from a dilute solution to a more concentrated solution through a selectively permeable membrane. The page includes a diagram illustrating this process, showing water molecules moving from a dilute solution to a concentrated solution.

Definition: Osmosis is the movement of water from a dilute solution to a more concentrated solution through a selectively permeable membrane.

The page also covers the effects of osmosis on plant cells:

• Plant cells are usually more concentrated than their surroundings.
• When water enters the cell by osmosis, the vacuole expands, pushing the cell membrane against the cell wall.
• This creates turgor pressure, making the cell turgid (firm).
• The cell wall prevents excessive water entry and cell bursting.
• If a plant cell is surrounded by a more concentrated solution, it will lose water by osmosis.
• Excessive water loss can lead to plasmolysis, where the cell contents shrink and the cell membrane pulls away from the cell wall.

Highlight: Turgor pressure in plants is crucial for maintaining cell structure and preventing excessive water intake.

Vocabulary: Plasmolysis is the condition where a plant cell loses too much water, causing the cell contents to shrink and the cell membrane to pull away from the cell wall.