Introduction to Osmosis: Mechanism, Factors, Types, and Applications

Osmosis
Presented by:

Introduction to Osmosis
 Process helps to equalize the concentration of two solutions
having different solute concentration.
 Spontaneous movement of solvent occurs from lower solute
concentration to higher concentration.
 Process occurs through selectively permeable membrane
that is permeable to solvent but not to the solute.
 External pressure known as osmotic pressure is required to
prevent the inward flow of the solution through the semi-
permeable membrane (Shaffer et al 2013)

Mechanism in Cell
The extracellular fluids enters the cytoplasm through protein
channels in the plasma membrane in order to stabilize the
water concentration in the cell.
 Plasma membrane acts as the semi permeable membrane in
the process (Chiras, 2013).

Factors Influencing Osmosis
Two major factors influence the process of
osmosis
OSMOTIC PRESSURE:
 Pressure per unit area that is required to prevent the water
inflow from lower concentration to higher concentration
through the selectively permeable membrane.
 It depends on the concentration of the solute but not on the
density (Shaffer et al 2013).