1 2 3 4 5

Fluxcan be considered as the driving force x permeability or the driving force/resistance B. Osmosis and its consequences for cells Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a semipermeable membrane, a membrane premeable to water but not solutes. We talked about this in simple diagrams:

8.11

A

B

A

B

Now, let's consider what would happen if these two compartments represented the inside and outside of a cell. The cell membrane is selectively permeable, but it does allow some things besides water to cross. However, this can be used as an approximation of how water behaves in cells. Q. What would happen if this side was the inside of the cell? First, what happens to the water? -rushes inside Second, what does this mean for the cell? - cell will swell. Animal cells will swell until they burst. C. Effect of cell wall Plant cells will also swell, but they are confined inside the cell wall, which limits how big they can get. The effect of the cell wall is like putting a piston on one side of our chamber.