Osmosis is defined as the spontaneous net movement or diffusion of solvent molecules through a selectively permeable membrane from a region of high water potential (region of lower solute concentration) to a region of low water potential (region of higher solute concentration), in a direction that tends to equalise the solute concentrations on the two sides of the membrane Additionally, it can be used to describe a physical process in which any solvent travels across a selectively permeable barrier (permeable to the solvent but not the solute) that separates two solutions with varying concentrations by separating them.
- The term “osmotic pressure” refers to the amount of external pressure that must be exerted for there to be no net movement of a solvent across the membrane.
- The osmotic pressure is a colligative attribute, which means that it is dependent on the molar concentration of the solute but not on the identity of the solute.
- Osmosis is a critical mechanism in biological systems because biological membranes are semipermeable, making them necessary for survival.
- As a rule, these membranes are impermeable to large, polar molecules such as ions, proteins, and polysaccharides, while they are permeable to non-polar or hydrophobic molecules such as lipids, as well as to small, non-polar molecules such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and nitric oxide, among other things.
- Permeability is determined by the solubility, charge, or chemistry of the solute, as well as the size of the solute.
- Aquaporins allow water molecules to diffuse across the phospholipid bilayer of the plasma membrane, tonoplast membrane (vacuole), or protoplast, allowing them to pass through the membrane (small transmembrane proteins similar to those responsible for facilitated diffusion and ion channels).
- In most cases, osmosis is the major way through which water is transferred into and out of cell structures. Turgor pressure is maintained in part by osmosis across the cell membrane between the cell interior and the cell’s generally hypotonic surrounding environment.
Types of osmosis
It is possible to differentiate between different forms of osmosis depending on the direction in which the solvent molecules are moving.
Reverse osmosis and Forward osmosis
When a solvent is forced across a semi-permeable membrane, it creates solute molecules on one side and solvent molecules on the other. This is known as reverse osmosis separation.
Reverse osmosis differs from forwarding osmosis in that reverse osmosis makes use of hydraulic pressure to drive the solvent against the osmotic pressure rather than the other way around.
Forward osmosis is a form of osmosis in which the osmotic pressure gradient is employed to stimulate the flow of water from the sample solution to separate the solutes in the sample solution. To separate the solute from the solvent in the sample solution, forward osmosis employs a draw solution that contains a higher concentration of a solute. This draws solvent molecules from the sample solution, resulting in the separation of the solute and solvent in the sample solution.
Endosmosis and exosmosis
- Water is drawn into the cell by the process of endosmosis, which takes place when a cell is immersed in a solution that contains a higher concentration of water than the cell.
- A cell that is placed in a solution that contains a higher concentration of a solute than that of the cell may experience exosmosis, which will cause water to flow out of the cell.
- After endosmosis, the size of the cells increases, whereas after exosmosis, the size of the cells decreases.
Osmotic condition
A solution is made up primarily of two components: the solute (the item to be dissolved) and the solvent (the component that dissolves the solutes). To ascertain if one solution is isotonic, hypotonic, or hypertonic when compared to another solution, the concentrations of the elements of the two solutions must be determined.
Isotonic
If you have an isotonic solution, it means that the total number of solutes in it is almost the same as the total number of solutes in another solution. For example, a cell that is isotonic to the surrounding solution means that both the intracellular fluid of the cell and the surrounding fluid will have the same osmotic pressure and water potential as the surrounding solution. This means that there will be no net flow of water molecules between the cell and the surrounding fluid under this situation.
Hypotonic
Generally speaking, a hypotonic solution is defined as one that has a lower osmotic pressure (or contains fewer solutes) than the solution to which it is being compared. In this instance, water travels toward the area with lower water concentration or towards the area with higher water concentration to dilute the solution further. For example, if the fluid surrounding the cell is hypotonic, the water will migrate past the membrane and into the cell, where it will be more concentrated due to the presence of the concentrated solution.
Hypertonic
In contrast to the hypotonic solution, the hypertonic solution appears to be the complete opposite of the hypotonic solution. A hypertonic solution will have a higher concentration of solutes and a lower concentration of water than the other solution. If a cell is immersed in a hypertonic solution, water will escape from the cell, diluting the solution outside the cell.
Effect of Osmosis on Cells
Osmosis has a distinct effect on different types of cells. Animal cells lyse when placed in a hypotonic solution, as opposed to plant cells which remain viable. Because the plant cell has strong walls, it requires more water than other cells. When the cells are placed in a hypotonic solution, they will not explode. The truth is that a hypotonic solution is optimal for the growth of plant cells.
Only an isotonic fluid can support the survival of an animal cell. It is no longer possible for the plant cells to be turgid in an isotonic solution, and the leaves begin to droop.
By applying external pressure to the sides of the solution, the osmotic flow can be stopped or reversed, a process known as reverse osmosis can be accomplished. The osmotic pressure is defined as the smallest amount of pressure required to stop the solvent transfer.
Osmotic Pressure
Osmotic pressure is defined as the amount of pressure required to prevent water from diffusing through a membrane as a result of osmosis. The concentration of the solute plays a role in determining this. Water diffuses from the area of lower concentration into the area of higher concentration. This is known as diffusive transport. When the concentrations of the substances in the two locations in contact are varied, the substances will disperse until the concentrations are uniform throughout the two areas in contact again.
The following equation can be used to compute osmotic pressure:
Π=MRT
When osmotic pressure is denoted by the symbol Π, M is the molar concentration of the solute in the solution, the gas constant is denoted by the letter R and the temperature is denoted by the letter T.
Factors affecting osmosis
Osmosis occurs as a result of a variety of causes, and the pace at which osmosis occurs is regulated by a number of these elements:
Temperature
- Increases in the rate of osmosis occur in direct proportion to increases in the temperature of the system.
- This occurs as a result of the fact that as the temperature rises, the energy of the molecules increases as well.
- Due to the increased movement of the molecules as their energy level rises, the process of osmosis becomes more rapid and more severe.
Concentration gradient
- In as much as the concentration of solute molecules is critical to the driving force of osmosis, any changes in concentration will have an immediate impact on the rate of osmosis in the water.
- osmosis increases dramatically in conditions where the difference in concentration of solute across the membrane is greater than one.
- As the quantity of solute molecules in one solution increases relative to the number of solute molecules in the other, the pressure exerted by the solvent molecules reduces, resulting in an acceleration of the osmosis process.
- Once equilibrium is achieved throughout the membrane, the process of osmosis comes to an end.
Water potential/ Solvent potential
- The water potential across a semi-permeable membrane affects the rate of osmosis as well as other factors.
- With a rise in the water potential of a solution, the water molecules can flow across the membrane as the pressure applied by the particles increases.
- Water potential on both sides eventually equalises, resulting in an equilibrium state of affairs.
- Once equilibrium has been achieved, water continues to flow across the membrane, but it does so in an equal amount in both directions, so stabilising the solutions in both directions.
Surface area and thickness of the membrane
- Because of the increase in surface area, more room will be available for the molecules to move about, which will result in an increase in the rate of osmosis as a result.
- Additionally, if the surface area is reduced, there will be less space for the molecules to travel, which will limit their ability to migrate across the surface.
- As the thickness of the membrane rises, the rate of osmosis is also reduced as a result.
Pressure
- The pressure exerted on the water is a critical component influencing the osmosis process, as it has the potential to alter the direction of the process.
- If the pressure applied is more than the pressure applied by the solvent molecules, the direction of osmosis may be altered, and the solvent molecules may begin to migrate towards the region with a higher solvent concentration than the pressure applied by the solvent molecules.
- However, if a pressure less than that exerted by the solvent molecules is applied, the direction of osmosis is not changed, but the rate of osmosis is reduced.
- Pressure applied in the same direction as the concentration gradient also has the effect of increasing the rate of osmosis, as previously stated.
Conclusion
Homeostasis is achieved by plants and animals in a variety of methods, one of which is through osmosis. It is only via maintaining the stability of the body’s conditions that living creatures can survive. Osmosis is a natural process that occurs in the human body and is particularly significant in the digestive system and the kidneys. There are two important functions of osmosis in a living organism: it helps to maintain a stable internal environment by maintaining a balanced pressure between the inter-and intracellular fluids, and it allows the absorption of nutrients and the expulsion of waste from various bodily organs at the cellular level. Osmosis is a natural process that occurs in all living organisms.