Summary notes – The roots and the soil and the osmosis PDF

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Summary notes – The roots and the soil and the osmosis Where ∏ is the osmotic pressure

M is the molar concentration of the solute

R is the gas constant

And T is the temperature of the system.

Significance of osmosis Osmosis has the following significances in the chemical and biological systems:

Osmosis is responsible for the transportation of nutrients into the cell and waste materials out of the cell. Osmosis influences the transport of water from the soil into the roots of plants which is then conducted to different parts of the cell via the xylem tissue. The internal environment of the cell in living organisms is stabilized by the balance between water and the intracellular fluid levels. Osmosis is also responsible for maintaining the turgidity of the cell. Osmosis in plants prevents the cells from drying out as a result of water loss by transpiration. The cell to cell diffusion of water and other cellular fluids is also maintained by osmosis. The movement of plants and plant parts is regulated by the turgidity of the cell, which in turn is balanced by osmosis. Osmosis also prevents the desiccation of fruits and sporangia among other plant structures. An increased osmotic pressure supports the plants in the desert areas against drought and other such injuries. Reverse osmosis and forwards osmosis are methods of separation used in the purification of drinking water, desalination, wastewater purification, the concentration of liquid foods like juices, production of maple syrups, low alcohol beer and hydrogen peroxide.

Examples of osmosis In the animal cells

Osmosis influences the shape and size of animal cells as there is no cell wall in animal cells. The red blood cells in humans are highly influenced by the osmotic pressure of blood. If the blood is too dilute, the RBCs shrink in size while they swell up and even burst if the blood is concentrated. Thus, in animals, the concentration of body fluids; blood plasma and tissue fluid, should be kept within strict limits. Another example of osmosis in animals is the shrinking of slugs on exposure to salt. The skin of slugs is a semi-permeable membrane that on exposure to salt, draws out water from the cells resulting in the shrinking of the cell and, in turn, the animal. Osmosis in animal cell and plant cell Figure: Effects of osmosis on cells in different tonic environments. Image Source: Philpot Education.

In the plant cells The root system in plants takes up water from the soil via osmosis. The cells in the root of the plants have a semi-permeable membrane that allows the water in the soil to infiltrate into the roots influencing the guard cells. Another classic example of osmosis in plants is the swelling up and shrinking of potato cells when slices of potato are dipped in a hypotonic solution and hypertonic solutions respectively....