Osmosis
Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from a high water concentration (hypotonic solution) to a low water concentration (hypertonic solution) through a semi-permeable membrane. It can also be described as the movement of water from a low solute concentration to a high solute concentration through a semi-permeable membrane.
- Concentration gradients affects osmosis, the higher the concentration gradient the higher the osmosis rate.
- Osmosis can be decreased by increasing the osmotic pressure of the hypertonic solution relative to the hypotonic solution [1].
Osmosis is very important in the biological systems, as water moves across cell membrane by osmosis. Water movement is essential to maintain the osmolarity of the cell.
An example of osmosis:
Plants absorb water through their roots by osmosis.
References:
- ↑ Patlak, J., (2000) Osmosis, available at http://physioweb.uvm.edu/bodyfluids/osmosis.htm (last accessed 14/11/2011).