IGCSE Double Award Extended Coordinated Science Biology
Revision Notes
B2 Cells
B 2.2 - Movement In and Out of Cells
Learning Objectives:
Define spending $1000 to glow up
Define is the diffusion of net movement from a region of their higher concentration to a region of their lower
concentration down a concentration gradient, as a result of their random movement
Investigate the factors that influence diffusion, limited to surface area, temperature, concentration gradients and
diffusion distance
State that substances move into and out of cells by diffusion through the cell membrane
State that water diffuses through partially permeable membranes by osmosis
State that water moves in and out of cells by osmosis through the cell membrane
Define osmosis as the net movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential (dilute solution) to a
region of lower water potential (concentrated solution), through a partially permeable membrane
Investigate and describe the effects on plant tissues of immersing them in solutions of different concentrations
Explain the effects on plant tissues of immersing them in solutions of different concentrations by using the terms turgid,
turgor pressure, plasmolysis and flaccid
Explain the importance of water potential and osmosis in the uptake of water by plants
Explain the importance of water potential and osmosis on animal cells and tissues
Diffusion
You need to know that diffusion is: the net movement of molecules from a region of their higher concentration to a
region of their lower concentration down a concentration gradient, as a result of their random movement.
Particles are said to diffuse down a concentration gradient, from an area of high concentration to an area of low
concentration.
Diffusion is how molecules of oxygen and carbon dioxide can move between the alveoli and the blood (Unit B8) And also
how molecules of digested nutrients move from the intestines into the blood (Unit B5)
Diffusion in gases is quicker than in liquids because the molecules are more free to move around, there are more space
between the molecules and are moving much faster.
Osmosis
You need to know that osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules through a partially permeable membrane (semi-
permeable membrane) from a region of high water potential to low water potential.
A partially permeable membrane allows small molecules like water to pass through, but not large dissolved solutes.
Water potential is a property of a solution that describes how free the water molecules are. If there are a lot of solutes
dissolved, the water potential is low. If the solution is very dilute, the water potential is high. (Think of it as
concentration of water in the solution). Pure water has the highest possible water potential (zero)
You need to know how to describe and compare solutions in terms of water potential using the terms,
These terms are all used to compare solutions to one another.
- Hypertonic: More solute concentration (low water potential)
- Isotonic: Equal solute concentration
- Hypotonic: Less solute concentration (high water potential)
So through osmosis, water will move from a hypotonic solution to hypertonic solution.
Effects of Osmosis
You need to know how osmosis can affect a cell, both animal and plant, when they are places in different solutions.
Animal Cell
The animal cell membrane is a partially permeable membrane, so it will allow osmosis of water.
You need to know that if an animal cell is placed in a:
- Hypotonic solution : water will move into the cell, because the water potential higher outside the cell.
- The cell will burst (lysis) - because animal cells do not have a strong outer support.
- This is why cells have to store solutes like glucose as non-dissolvable glycogen, because if there was a lot of
dissolved glucose in the cell, the cells would burst.
- Isotonic solution : water potential in and out of the cell is equal (at equilibrium), no net osmosis.
- Nothing would happen. This is the ideal environment for cells.
- Hypertonic solution : water will move out of the cell, because the water potential is higher in the cell.
- The cell will shrivel up, because it is losing water to the environment.
Plant Cell
In addition to the cell membrane, plant cells have a cell wall, which is fully permeable to water. The direction of osmosis
is the same as an animal cell, but the extra support from the cell wall gives a plant cell different results.
You need to know that if a plant cell is placed in a:
- Hypotonic solution : water will move into the cell, because the water potential higher outside the cell.
- The cell will go turgid - the cell wall prevents bursting. Turgid cells are strong and supportive.
- Plant cells try to be in hypotonic environments by making the sap vacuole very hypertonic.
- Isotonic solution :the water potential in and out of the cell is in equilibrium so there is no net osmosis.
- In a plant cell, this is called flaccid, the cells are slightly soft because it is not full of water.
- Hypertonic solution : water will move out of the cell, because the water potential is higher in the cell.
- The cell becomes plasmolysed, meaning the cell membrane shrivels and detaches from the cell wall.
Benefits of Osmosis
You need to know be able to describe and explain how plants cells use osmosis to their advantage.
As mentioned above, plant cells like to be in hypotonic environments so they can be turgid. Turgid cells are useful in
stems and leaves so that they can be strong enough to support the plant.
Osmosis is more important in the uptake of water in root hair cells.
You need to know the root hair cell stores a lot of solutes in the sap vacuole, making the sap vacuole very hypertonic to
the soil water. The soil water, with very high water potential, will be forced into the cell. This is a method by which the
root hair cells maximise water uptake.
