Osmosis is the passage of water from a region of high water concentration through a semi-permeable membrane to a region of low water concentration.
Each plant cell has a semi-permeable membrane surrounding it. It is a very thin layer of material which has various functions: it both nourishes the cell by letting substances pass through and protects the cell by keeping substances out. It also can keep water from leaving the cell.
Plant cells take up water through osmosis. This process of absorbing water through the walls of the cells allows the moisture to pass from cell to cell and move from the roots to the leaves. As well, osmosis protects leaves against losing water through evaporation.
Another way that osmosis helps a plant is that it makes green plants 'stand up' in the sunlight. When the plant cells take up water by osmosis they start to swell, but the cell wall keeps them from bursting. Plant cells become 'turgid,' or hard and swollen. Turgidity is what makes green plants 'stand up' in the sun.
Osmosis also occurs in animal cells. It is the basis for many helpful technologies including medicines and preserving food.
Each plant cell has a semi-permeable membrane surrounding it. It is a very thin layer of material which has various functions: it both nourishes the cell by letting substances pass through and protects the cell by keeping substances out. It also can keep water from leaving the cell.
Plant cells take up water through osmosis. This process of absorbing water through the walls of the cells allows the moisture to pass from cell to cell and move from the roots to the leaves. As well, osmosis protects leaves against losing water through evaporation.
Another way that osmosis helps a plant is that it makes green plants 'stand up' in the sunlight. When the plant cells take up water by osmosis they start to swell, but the cell wall keeps them from bursting. Plant cells become 'turgid,' or hard and swollen. Turgidity is what makes green plants 'stand up' in the sun.
Osmosis also occurs in animal cells. It is the basis for many helpful technologies including medicines and preserving food.
