FOR MORE EXAMS
EMAIL:
Straighterline BIO 202L Lab 4
Diffusion and Osmosis questions
and answers 2026
Lab 4 Diffusion and Osmosis BIO201L
Student Name: Kris&e Vasquez
Access Code (located on the lid of your lab kit): AC-41swxr
Lab Report Format Expecta0ons
U"lize college level grammar and professional forma4ng when
comple"ng this worksheet.
Submissions without proper forma4ng, all required photos or sufficient
responses will be rejected. Prelab Ques>ons
1. Define the following terms.
a. hypertonic solu&on:
A hypertonic solu&on is one that has a higher
concentra&on of solutes (such as salts, sugars, or proteins)
compared to another solu&on, par&cularly when
comparing two solu&ons separated by a semipermeable
membrane. In the context of biology, when a cell is placed
in a hypertonic solu&on, water tends to move out of the cell
to the surrounding solu&on to balance the solute
concentra&ons, which can lead to cell shrinkage.
b. hypotonic solu&on:
, FOR MORE EXAMS
EMAIL:
A hypotonic solu&on, in contrast, has a lower
concentra&on of solutes compared to another solu&on
across a semipermeable membrane. In this scenario, if a cell
is placed in a hypotonic solu&on, water will tend to move
into the cell, poten&ally causing the cell to swell and, in
extreme cases, burst due to the influx of water.
c. isotonic solu&on:
An isotonic solu&on has an equal concentra&on of solutes
as another solu&on across a semipermeable membrane. In
this case, there is no net movement of water into or out of
the cell, and the cell remains in a state of equilibrium with
its environment
2. Define osmo&c pressure.
Osmo&c pressure is the pressure that is required to stop the net
movement of water across a
semipermeable membrane. It is a measure of the tendency of a
solvent, typically water, to move into a solu&on due to
differences in solute concentra&ons. In biological systems, osmo&c
pressure is crucial in maintaining proper cell func&on and
volume.
3. Explain what would happen to a cell placed in a hypertonic
solu&on.
When a cell is placed in a hypertonic solu&on, it will experience
osmosis, where water moves out of the cell and into the
surrounding solu&on to balance the higher solute concentra&on
outside the cell. This leads to a decrease in cell volume and can
cause the cell to shrink, a process known as crena&on in red
EMAIL:
Straighterline BIO 202L Lab 4
Diffusion and Osmosis questions
and answers 2026
Lab 4 Diffusion and Osmosis BIO201L
Student Name: Kris&e Vasquez
Access Code (located on the lid of your lab kit): AC-41swxr
Lab Report Format Expecta0ons
U"lize college level grammar and professional forma4ng when
comple"ng this worksheet.
Submissions without proper forma4ng, all required photos or sufficient
responses will be rejected. Prelab Ques>ons
1. Define the following terms.
a. hypertonic solu&on:
A hypertonic solu&on is one that has a higher
concentra&on of solutes (such as salts, sugars, or proteins)
compared to another solu&on, par&cularly when
comparing two solu&ons separated by a semipermeable
membrane. In the context of biology, when a cell is placed
in a hypertonic solu&on, water tends to move out of the cell
to the surrounding solu&on to balance the solute
concentra&ons, which can lead to cell shrinkage.
b. hypotonic solu&on:
, FOR MORE EXAMS
EMAIL:
A hypotonic solu&on, in contrast, has a lower
concentra&on of solutes compared to another solu&on
across a semipermeable membrane. In this scenario, if a cell
is placed in a hypotonic solu&on, water will tend to move
into the cell, poten&ally causing the cell to swell and, in
extreme cases, burst due to the influx of water.
c. isotonic solu&on:
An isotonic solu&on has an equal concentra&on of solutes
as another solu&on across a semipermeable membrane. In
this case, there is no net movement of water into or out of
the cell, and the cell remains in a state of equilibrium with
its environment
2. Define osmo&c pressure.
Osmo&c pressure is the pressure that is required to stop the net
movement of water across a
semipermeable membrane. It is a measure of the tendency of a
solvent, typically water, to move into a solu&on due to
differences in solute concentra&ons. In biological systems, osmo&c
pressure is crucial in maintaining proper cell func&on and
volume.
3. Explain what would happen to a cell placed in a hypertonic
solu&on.
When a cell is placed in a hypertonic solu&on, it will experience
osmosis, where water moves out of the cell and into the
surrounding solu&on to balance the higher solute concentra&on
outside the cell. This leads to a decrease in cell volume and can
cause the cell to shrink, a process known as crena&on in red
