Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2023

First exams 2025

|

Osmosis (CIE AS Biology)

Revision Note

Test yourself
Phil

Author

Phil

Last updated

The Process of Osmosis

  • All cells are surrounded by a cell membrane which is selectively permeable
  • Water can move in and out of cells by osmosis
  • Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules from a dilute solution (high concentration of water) to a more concentrated solution (low concentration of water) across a selectively permeable membrane
  • In doing this, water is moving down its concentration gradient
  • The cell membrane is selectively permeable which means it allows certain molecules (like water) through the bilayer
    • Larger molecules (like solute molecules) require channel or carrier proteins, which may or may not exist in a certain piece of membrane

Osmosis Diagram

Osmosis & the selectively permeable membrane

Osmosis and the selectively permeable membrane

  • Osmosis is 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 selectively permeable membrane
  • Water potential describes the tendency of water to move out of a solution
    • This term is used to avoid confusion between water concentration and concentration of a solute
    • A dilute solution has a high water potential (the right-hand side of the diagram below) and a concentrated solution has a low water potential (the left-hand side of the diagram below)

How Osmosis Works Diagram

How osmosis works

How osmosis works

  • The water potential of pure water (without any solutes) at atmospheric pressure is 0 kPa, therefore any solution that has solutes will have a water potential lower than 0 kPa (it will be a negative value)

Examiner Tip

Water can pass through the phospholipid bilayer because water molecules are small molecules that can pass between phospholipids in the cell membrane. Although water molecules are polar, they can still pass through the bilayer because of their small size.When interpreting questions on water potential, remember – the more negative the water potential, the lower the water potential (the further it is away from pure water which has a water potential of 0 kPa).

You've read 0 of your 10 free revision notes

Unlock more, it's free!

Join the 100,000+ Students that ❤️ Save My Exams

the (exam) results speak for themselves:

Did this page help you?

Phil

Author: Phil

Expertise: Biology

Phil has a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Birmingham, followed by an MBA from Manchester Business School. He has 15 years of teaching and tutoring experience, teaching Biology in schools before becoming director of a growing tuition agency. He has also examined Biology for one of the leading UK exam boards. Phil has a particular passion for empowering students to overcome their fear of numbers in a scientific context.