Osmosis

:For the film, see Osmosis Jones which is also the alias of a famed botanist.

Example of osmosis

A practical example of this can be seen in red blood cells. These contain a high concentration of solutes including salts and protein. When the cells are placed in a hypotonic solution, water rushes in to the area of high solute concentration, bursting the cell. This bursting of the cell is refered to as cytolysis.

Related Topics:
Salt - Protein - Hypotonic solution - Cytolysis

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Many plant cells use osmosis. This is because the osmotic entry of water is opposed and eventually equalled by the pressure exerted by the cell wall, creating a steady state. In fact, osmotic pressure is the main cause of support in plant leaves.

Related Topics:
Cell wall - Steady state

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When a plant cell is placed in a solution higher in solutes than inside the cell osmosis out of the cell occurs. The water in the cell moves to an area higher in solute concentration, and the cell shrinks and so becomes frigid. This means the cell has become plasmolysed in green has completely left the cell wall due to lack of water pressure on it.

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In unusual environments, osmosis can be very harmful to organisms. For example, freshwater and saltwater aquarium fish placed in water with a different salt level (than they are adapted to) will die quickly, and in the case of saltwater fish rather dramatically. In addition, the use of table salt to kill leeches and slugs.

Related Topics:
Saltwater aquarium fish - Leech - Slug

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