The Effect of Concentration on Osmosis :: Papers

The Effect of Concentration on Osmosis Introduction Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules that occurs only when there is a movement of water molecules from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration through a partially permeable membrane. The process ends only when the two concentrations are equal or the cell is unable to take any more water because the cell is turgid. For osmosis to take place a partially permeable membrane is required to allow water movement to take place and to prevent such a transfer between other molecules. If a cell is in contact with a solution of lower water concentration than its own contents, then water leaves the cell by osmosis, through the cell membrane. The living contents of the cell contracts and eventually pulls away from the cell wall and shrinks, this is known as plasmolysis. If you put a plant cell in water, water enters by Osmosis, and then swells up. However, the cell will not burst. This is due to the fact that the cell walls are made from cellulose, which is extremely strong. Eventually, the cell stops swelling, and when this point is reached, we say the cell is turgid.