The Process of Osmosis (WJEC GCSE Biology)

Revision Note

Cara Head

Author

Cara Head

Last updated

Osmosis

  • Osmosis is a special type of diffusion that involves the movement of water molecules
  • Osmosis can be defined as:

The movement of water from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration through a selectively permeable membrane

    • Note that a partially permeable cell membranes can also be described as selectively permeable

Osmosis diagram
Osmosis in Cells, downloadable IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Osmosis occurs when two solutions are separated by a partially permeable membrane

Effect of solution concentration on osmosis table

Solution Alternative description Direction of osmosis
High water concentration

Low solute concentration

Dilute solution

E.g. the highest possible water concentration is found in pure water
Water will move out of a solution with a higher water concentration into a solution with a lower water concentration
Low water concentration

High solute concentration

e.g. a concentrated sugar solution
Water will move into a solution with lower water concentration from a more dilute solution

Examiner Tip

Osmosis is a topic that causes a great deal of confusion, so remember the following essential points:

  • Osmosis only refers to the movement of water molecules
  • When describing the direction of water movement during osmosis you MUST be clear about whether you are referring to the water concentration or the solute concentration of a solution; just stating 'water moves from high to low concentration' will not be good enough

Investigating osmosis in living material

  • It is possible to study osmosis by investigating the effect of solute concentration on osmosis in plant tissue
  • The procedure is as follows:
    1. Prepare sugar solutions at a range of different solute concentrations
    2. Use a cork borer to prepare a series of potato chips of the same length
    3. Weigh each potato chip and record the mass
    4. Place each potato chip into a solution at a different solute concentration and leave for a set period of time, e.g. 30 minutes
    5. Remove the potato chips and dry them using a paper towel
    6. Weigh each chip again and record the new mass
    7. Calculate the change in mass of each chip

Variables

  • The independent variable is the solute concentration of the solution, e.g. in mol dm3
  • The dependent variable is the change in mass of the potato chips
  • Important control variables include:
    • Type and volume of solute solution
    • Temperature
    • Time for which chips are left in the solution
    • The surface area of the potato chips

Osmosis practical diagram

Osmosis Method_1, downloadable IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notesOsmosis Method_2, downloadable IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notesOsmosis Method_3, downloadable IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Osmosis in living material can be investigated practically to obtain quantitative results that can be analysed

Analysing results

  • Calculate the percentage change in mass of each potato chip, remembering to indicate whether the mass increases or decreases
  • Plot percentage change in mass against sugar concentration on a graph

investigating-osmosis-results

A positive percentage change in mass indicates that the potato has gained water by osmosis, meaning the solution is more dilute than the potato cell contents

A negative percentage change suggests the opposite

  • If the plant tissue gains mass:
    • Water must have moved into the plant tissue from the solution surrounding it by osmosis
    • The solution surrounding the tissue has a higher water concentration than the contents of the plant cells
  • If plant tissue loses mass:
    • Water must have moved out of the plant tissue into the solution surrounding it by osmosis
    • The solution surrounding the plant tissue has a lower water concentration than the contents of the plant cells
  • If there is no overall change in mass:
    • There has been no net movement of water molecules
    • The water concentration in the plant tissue and the surrounding solution must be equal
    • The point on the graph at which the line of best fit crosses the x axis can be used to determine the solute concentration of the plant tissue cells

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?

Cara Head

Author: Cara Head

Expertise: Biology

Cara graduated from the University of Exeter in 2005 with a degree in Biological Sciences. She has fifteen years of experience teaching the Sciences at KS3 to KS5, and Psychology at A-Level. Cara has taught in a range of secondary schools across the South West of England before joining the team at SME. Cara is passionate about Biology and creating resources that bring the subject alive and deepen students' understanding