Osmosis

Osmosis = diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane

Occurs when water can cross membrane, but solute cannot

Terminology:

Solvent = most common material in a solution (= water)

Solute = less common. Is dissolved in solvent

Isotonic solution – equal amounts of solute on either side

Hypotonic solution – less solute than the other side

Hypertonic solution – more solute than the other side