What is Osmosis?
Movement of water molecules from the region of higher concentration to the region of lower concentration of molecules through semi-permeable membrane until equilibrium is attained is called osmosis.
What happens when a cell is placed in a hypertonic, hypotonic and isotonic solution?
What happens when a cell is placed in a hypertonic, hypotonic and isotonic solution?
The hypertonic solution has higher concentration of solutes than cells. while the hypotonic solution contains lower concentration solutes as compared to cells. When cells and solutions have equal concentration of solutes, then they are called isotonic solutions. When living cells are placed in a hypertonic solution, the cell will gain solvent when placed in hypotonic solution due to endosmosis. There is no loss or gain (net gain zero) when a cell is placed in an isotonic solution.
[In a hypertonic solution, there's a higher concentration of solutes outside the cell compared to inside, so water will flow out of the cell, causing it to shrink. In a hypotonic solution, there's a lower concentration of solutes outside the cell, so water flows into the cell, causing it to swell or even burst. And in an isotonic solution, where the concentrations are equal, there's no net movement of water, so the cell maintains its size and shape. It's a delicate balance crucial for the functioning of living organisms.]
Ascent of sap is the phenomenon which helps to uptake water from roots to tip of plants. Many theories have been purposed to explain ascent of sap.