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Quizzes > Science > Biology

Ready to Master Diffusion and Osmosis? Take the Quiz Now

Think you can ace these osmosis questions and diffusion practice problems? Dive in!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for a Diffusion and Osmosis quiz on a teal background

Calling all biology buffs and curious learners! Test Your Osmosis Knowledge: Diffusion & Osmosis Quiz is here to challenge your mastery of osmosis questions and diffusion practice problems. Ready to see how well you grasp the science behind water movement? Dive into our free diffusion and osmosis quiz to tackle engaging diffusion and osmosis crossword puzzles, and sharpen your skills with real lab scenarios. Whether you're a student preparing for exams or simply love exploring cellular processes, this osmosis quiz invites you to push your limits. So what are you waiting for? Click in now and start scoring your science smarts!

What defines osmosis in biological systems?
The passive diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane
The active transport of water molecules against their concentration gradient
The diffusion of solute particles through a membrane
The facilitated diffusion of ions via protein channels
Osmosis is a specific type of passive transport referring only to the movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from regions of lower to higher solute concentration. It does not require energy input, meaning it is not an active process. Osmosis differs from the diffusion of solutes, which involves solute particles moving across membranes. For more details, see Britannica.
Which term describes a membrane that allows certain molecules to pass while blocking others?
Permeable membrane
Impermeable membrane
Selectively permeable membrane
Osmotic membrane
A selectively permeable membrane permits specific molecules to cross while excluding others based on size, charge, or other properties. This property is crucial for maintaining the internal environment of cells. It differs from a permeable membrane, which allows all substances through, and an impermeable membrane, which allows none. To learn more, see Khan Academy.
When a red blood cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, what will occur?
Water enters the cell, causing it to swell and potentially burst
Water exits the cell, causing it to shrink and crenate
No net movement of water, cell volume remains constant
Solutes diffuse into the cell until equilibrium is reached
In a hypotonic environment, the solute concentration outside the cell is lower than inside, causing water to move into the cell via osmosis. This influx of water increases the cell’s volume, which can lead to swelling and hemolysis if excessive. Solute diffusion is a separate process and does not directly account for water movement in this scenario. For more information, see Khan Academy.
Under which condition do plant cells become turgid?
When placed in a hypertonic solution
When placed in a hypotonic solution
When placed in an isotonic solution
When pressure potential equals zero
Plant cells become turgid when they absorb water in a hypotonic environment, causing the central vacuole to expand and press the plasma membrane against the cell wall. This turgor pressure provides structural support and maintains rigidity. In hypertonic solutions, plant cells lose water and plasmolyze instead. To read more, visit Britannica.
Which of the following describes a hypertonic solution relative to a cell?
A solution with lower solute concentration than the cell, causing water to enter
A solution with higher solute concentration than the cell, causing water to leave
A solution with equal solute concentration, causing no net water movement
A solution that actively transports water into the cell
A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes compared to the cell’s interior, which causes water to move out of the cell by osmosis. This efflux of water results in cell shrinkage or plasmolysis. Isotonic solutions cause no net water movement, and hypotonic solutions lead to water entering the cell. For a deeper explanation, see Khan Academy.
What is the water potential of a plant cell with a solute potential of -0.5 MPa and a pressure potential of 0.2 MPa?
-0.7 MPa
-0.3 MPa
0.3 MPa
0.5 MPa
Water potential (?w) is the sum of solute potential (?s) and pressure potential (?p). In this case: ?w = -0.5 MPa + 0.2 MPa = -0.3 MPa. Negative values indicate tension, meaning water tends to move into the cell. This concept is essential in understanding water transport in plants. Learn more at Britannica.
What happens to a red blood cell in pure distilled water?
It crenates due to water loss
It undergoes hemolysis and bursts
It remains unchanged
It becomes plasmolyzed
Distilled water is a very hypotonic solution relative to the interior of red blood cells. Water enters the cell rapidly, increasing internal pressure until the membrane ruptures, a process called hemolysis. Crenation and plasmolysis involve shrinkage of cells due to water loss, which occurs in hypertonic conditions. For more details, refer to Khan Academy.
Which best defines tonicity?
The total concentration of all solute particles in a solution
The pressure exerted by water moving across a membrane
The relative concentration of non-penetrating solutes that determines water movement
The osmotic pressure at equilibrium
Tonicity refers specifically to the effect of non-penetrating solutes on the direction of water movement across a membrane. It excludes solutes that can freely cross the membrane, focusing only on those that influence osmotic pressure and cell volume. Osmotic pressure and total solute concentration (osmolarity) are related but not identical to tonicity. More information is available at Khan Academy.
In the modified van ’t Hoff equation for osmotic pressure (? = iMRT?), what does ? represent?
The ideal gas constant
The ionization constant
The reflection coefficient indicating membrane permeability to solute
The temperature in Kelvin
In the equation ? = iMRT?, ? is the reflection coefficient, which quantifies the membrane’s impermeability to the solute. A ? of 1 indicates that the solute is completely impermeable, while a value of 0 indicates total permeability. This factor adjusts the theoretical osmotic pressure to account for real membrane behavior. For further reading, see Wikipedia.
What is the primary function of aquaporins in cellular membranes?
Facilitating passive water transport across the membrane
Actively pumping water molecules against their gradient
Transporting ions with water molecules
Enabling the diffusion of large solute molecules
Aquaporins are membrane proteins that provide channels specifically for rapid, passive water transport across cell membranes. They do not require energy input and are highly selective for water molecules, excluding ions and other solutes. This facilitates efficient osmoregulation and rapid volume changes in cells. Learn more at Nature Education.
Calculate the osmotic pressure (in atm) of a 0.10 M glucose solution at 25°C. (Use R = 0.08206 L·atm·K?¹·mol?¹.)
2.44 atm
0.82 atm
1.98 atm
3.00 atm
Osmotic pressure (?) can be calculated using ? = MRT, where M is molarity, R is the gas constant, and T is temperature in Kelvin (25°C = 298 K). Substituting gives ? = 0.10 × 0.08206 × 298 ? 2.44 atm. This illustrates how solute concentration influences osmotic pressure. More details at LibreTexts.
Which solute is considered penetrating and does not contribute to long-term tonicity across most cell membranes?
Sucrose
Sodium chloride
Urea
Albumin
Penetrating solutes, like urea, can cross cell membranes and thus do not exert a sustained osmotic effect on cells. Non-penetrating solutes, such as sucrose, NaCl, and proteins like albumin, remain outside and drive water movement. Over time, urea equilibrates across the membrane, eliminating osmotic gradients. For more, consult NCBI Bookshelf.
Which scenario best illustrates the Gibbs–Donnan equilibrium across a semipermeable membrane?
Equal concentrations of all ions on both sides of the membrane
Unequal distribution of permeant ions to balance the charge of impermeant proteins
Active transport causing net ion movement against their gradients
Complete equilibrium of solute concentration regardless of charge
The Gibbs–Donnan equilibrium describes how permeant ions distribute unequally across a membrane when impermeant charged species (like proteins) are present on one side. This unequal distribution helps maintain overall electroneutrality and osmotic balance. It does not involve active transport and results in different ion concentrations on each side. See Wikipedia for more information.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze osmotic movements -

    Evaluate how water molecules transit cell membranes under different solute concentrations using targeted osmosis questions.

  2. Differentiate diffusion and osmosis -

    Contrast passive transport mechanisms by solving diffusion practice problems and identifying key differences in molecular movement.

  3. Predict molecular flow -

    Determine the direction and rate of solute and solvent movement in diverse scenarios presented in the diffusion and osmosis quiz.

  4. Apply theoretical principles -

    Use concepts of tonicity and osmotic pressure to solve interactive osmosis quiz challenges and reinforce your understanding.

  5. Interpret interactive feedback -

    Review instant explanations for each question to pinpoint misconceptions and strengthen your grasp of diffusion and osmosis.

  6. Reinforce key terminology -

    Master essential vocabulary through the diffusion and osmosis crossword to enhance scientific accuracy and confidence.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Basic Principles of Diffusion -

    Diffusion is the passive net movement of molecules from areas of high to low concentration until equilibrium is reached, driven by random molecular motion (Campbell Biology). Simple diffusion lets small nonpolar molecules cross lipid bilayers, while facilitated diffusion uses specific protein channels. No ATP is consumed, a fact that simplifies many diffusion and osmosis quiz questions.

  2. Fick's First Law of Diffusion -

    Fick's First Law quantifies flux (J) as J = -D·(dC/dx), where D is the diffusion coefficient and dC/dx is the concentration gradient (University of Cambridge). A steeper gradient or larger D yields higher flux, a handy formula for diffusion practice problems. Remember the negative sign indicates movement down the gradient.

  3. Osmosis & Water Potential -

    Osmosis describes water's net movement across a semi-permeable membrane toward higher solute concentration, governed by water potential Ψ = Ψs + Ψp (UC Davis Plant Physiology). Pure water has Ψ=0 MPa; adding solutes lowers Ψs, pulling water in. This equation is key for solving osmosis questions on your quiz.

  4. Tonicity & Cellular Responses -

    Tonicity refers to how external solutions (isotonic, hypotonic, hypertonic) affect cell volume (Khan Academy). In hypotonic solutions cells swell ("Hippo got big") and in hypertonic they shrink ("Hyper has a dry cry"). Mastering these scenarios helps with both the osmosis quiz and diffusion and osmosis crossword clues.

  5. Factors Affecting Diffusion Rates -

    Diffusion rate is boosted by larger concentration gradients, higher temperature, greater surface area, and shorter diffusion distances (Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry). Use dialysis tubing experiments to model osmosis and tackle diffusion practice problems hands-on. Reinforce vital terms like "semi-permeable" and "osmolarity" with a diffusion and osmosis crossword for extra confidence.

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