osmosis

(noun)

the net movement of solvent molecules from a region of high solvent potential to a region of lower solvent potential through a partially permeable membrane

Related Terms

  • hypertonic
  • hypotonic
  • isotonic

Examples of osmosis in the following topics:

  • Osmotic Pressure

    • Osmosis is the net movement of solvent molecules through a partially permeable membrane into a region of higher solute concentration.
    • The intent of osmosis is to equalize the solute concentrations on the two sides.
    • Osmosis is essential in biological systems because biological membranes are semi permeable.
    • Osmosis provides the primary means by which water is transported into and out of cells.
    • If the medium is hypotonic — a diluted solution with a higher water concentration than the cell — the cell will gain water through osmosis .
  • Osmotic Pressure

    • Osmosis causes water to flow from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration until the two areas have an equal ratio of solute to water.
  • Extremely Halophilic Archaea

    • Most halophilic organisms cope with the high concentrations of salt by expending energy to exclude salt from their cytoplasm to avoid protein aggregation, or "salting out. " "Normal" organisms would desiccate in these conditions, losing water via osmosis out of the cytoplasm.
  • Food Preservation

    • Salting or curing draws moisture from the meat through a process of osmosis.
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