Osmosis is a passive process where water moves across a semipermeable membrane from a region of high water concentration (or high water potential) to a region of lower water concentration. This movement occurs without the expenditure of cellular energy.

Tonicity describes the effect a solution has on cell volume due to osmosis. It depends on the solute concentration of the solution relative to the cell's internal environment and determines whether water will enter or exit the cell.

A hypotonic solution has a lower solute concentration compared to the inside of a cell, resulting in a higher water concentration outside the cell. Water flows into the cell to balance the concentration gradient, causing the cell to swell.

In a hypertonic solution the external solute concentration is higher than inside the cell. This results in water moving out of the cell by osmosis, leading to shrinkage, a process often called crenation.

An isotonic solution has the same solute concentration as the cell's interior, which results in no net water movement. Cells maintain their normal shape and size in an isotonic environment since water enters and leaves at equal rates.

Pure water has a higher water potential compared to solutions with dissolved solutes. Thus, when a cell is exposed to a concentrated sugar solution, water moves from the pure water side to the sugar solution side following its gradient.

A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes compared to the interior of a red blood cell. This concentration difference drives water out of the cell via osmosis, leading to cell shrinkage or crenation.

In a hypotonic solution, plant cells absorb water by osmosis, which increases the internal turgor pressure. The rigid cell wall prevents the cell from bursting, resulting in a turgid and healthy plant cell.

Cell membranes are described as semipermeable because they allow certain molecules, like water, to pass through while restricting others. This selective permeability is essential for processes like osmosis and the regulation of cellular environments.

Aquaporins are specialized protein channels that allow water to move quickly and efficiently through the cell membrane. Their presence increases the rate of osmosis, making it easier for cells to adjust to changes in external solute concentration.

The rate of osmosis is influenced by factors such as the solute concentration gradient, membrane permeability, and temperature. The color of the cell has no effect on the osmotic process.

Animal cells lack a rigid cell wall, so when placed in a hypotonic solution, water enters the cell by osmosis. This influx of water can lead to swelling and may eventually cause the cell to burst, a phenomenon known as lysis.

Water potential is a concept used to predict the direction of water movement based on the free energy of water in a system. It takes into account factors such as solute concentration and pressure, which help determine the flow of water across membranes.

Diffusion is the process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. It often occurs alongside osmosis, which specifically describes the movement of water.

Increasing the external solute concentration creates a hypertonic environment relative to the interior of the cell. This concentration difference drives water out of the cell via osmosis, resulting in a decrease in cell volume.

Plasmolysis is the process where a plant cell loses water in a hypertonic environment, causing the cell membrane to pull away from the cell wall. This detachment is a clear indicator of water loss due to osmosis.

The rigid cell wall in plant cells provides structural support, which prevents the cells from bursting when water enters in a hypotonic solution. Unlike animal cells, plant cells can build up turgor pressure without the risk of lysis.

Dynamic equilibrium in osmosis occurs when water molecules continuously move across the cell membrane but there is no net change in the cell's water content. In an isotonic environment, the rates of water influx and efflux are balanced, maintaining a stable cell size.

A semipermeable membrane is crucial in osmosis experiments because it selectively permits water molecules to pass while retaining larger solute particles. This selectivity enables the clear observation of water movement driven solely by concentration differences.

Aquaporins are specialized channels that facilitate the rapid movement of water across cell membranes. Without these proteins, the membrane's permeability to water decreases, thus reducing the rate at which osmosis can occur.