What would happen to a

fresh water fish if you

put it in salt water?

Practice Problems Osmosis

Use this key to answer all the problems below. If you choose B or
C, rewrite the statement so that it is complete and true.
A = TRUE B = FALSE
C = NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION

PROBLEM ONE: The initial molar concentration of the cytoplasm inside

a cell is 2M and the cell is placed in a solution with a concentration of
2.5M.
1. Initially, free energy is greater inside the cell than outside
2. It is possible that this cell is already in equilibrium with its
surroundings.
3. Initially, solute concentration is greater outside the cell than inside.
4. Water will enter the cell because solute concentration is lower inside
the cell than outside.
5. The cell will loose water because the water concentration is greater
outside the cell than inside.
6. The cell is already in equilibrium with its surroundings because the
water concentration outside the cell is equal to inside the cell.
7. Initially, the cytoplasm is hypertonic to the surrounding solution.
8. Net diffusion of water will be from inside the cell to outside the cell.
9. At equilibrium, the molarity of the cytoplasm will have increased.
10.The solution outside the cell was hypertonic to the cell.
3

Water Potential
Osmosis & Plant cells

Plants & water potential

The

combined effects of

1.) solute concentration

2.) physical pressure (cell wall)

can be measured as Water Potential

psi

Calculating Water Potential

!

Or
!

Water =
Potential

pressure +
potential

solute
potential

Solute Potential S
Solute

potential is also called the osmotic

potential because solutes affect the direction of
osmosis.

of any solution at atmospheric pressure is

always negative why?

!
Answer

= less free water molecules to do work

Solute Potential S
Solutes

bind water
molecules reducing
the number of free
water molecules !
lowers waters
ability to do work.
Less free water
molecules.

Pressure Potential P
P is the physical pressure on a solution.
!

P often positive ! water in living plant

cells is under positive pressure (turgid)

Standard for measuring

Pure

water is the standard.

Pure

water in an open container has a

water potential of zero at one barr of
pressure.

Water Potential: an artificial model

(a)

addition of solutes
on right side reduces
water potential. S =
-0.23

!
Water

flows from
hypo to hyper

!
Or

from high on left

to low on right

Water relations in plant cells

(b)

Flaccid cell in pure water ! Water

potential is into cell! cell becomes turgid

Chapter 32

Calculating Solute potential

Use

the equation
S = - iCRT

i = ionization constant - # particles a

molecule makes in water
C = Molar concentration
R = pressure constant 0.0831 liter bar
mole oK
T = temperature in degrees Kelvin
= 273 + oC

Solve for water potential

Once

you know the solute potential, add the

solute potential to the pressure potential to
solve for the water potential of the solution.

Hints & reminders

1. Remember water always moves from
[high] to [low].
2. Water moves from hypo ! hypertonic.
3. Pressure raises water potential.
4. Adding solute decreases water potential.
5. When working problems, use zero for
pressure potential in animal cells & open
beakers.

 The molar concentration of a sugar

solution in an open beaker has been
determined to be 0.3M. Calculate the
solute potential at 27 degrees Celsius.
Round your answer to the nearest
hundredth.

17

A .15M solution of NaCl in an open beaker at 25 degrees

Celsius. What is the water potential of the solution?
!
!
!
!
A cell with a .23M solution of NaCl is placed in to the beaker.
What is the water potential of the cell?
!
!
!
!
In which direction will the water move?

18