Imbibition, Diffusion and Osmosis

 Imbibition, Diffusion and Osmosis

Hey guys, Welcome back to the bioeducation1, In this post you will learn about the Imbibition, Diffusion and Osmosis and it's importance. Let's go to the topic- Imbibition, Diffusion and Osmosis. 

Imbibition

• The adsorption of water by hydrophilic compounds is called Imbibition.
• The movement of only water or solvent take place from higher concentration to lower concentration.
• In this process, the water molecules get tightly adsorbed on the surface without forming it's solution.
• Due to Imbibition, the compounds show swelling.
• It is a reversible process.
• There is no membrane involved.
• It takes place in both living and dead cells.
• For Example, During Rainy Season wooden doors and windows imbibe water and swell.

Importance of Imbibition:

• Imbibition helps in water Absorption by roots hairs of plants. 
• It helps in seed germination.
• It keeps the cell moist.

Diffusion

• Diffusion is the movement of ions, atoms, molecules of solutes, liquids or gases from the region of higher concentration to lower concentration till equilibrium is attained.
• It occurs in all states of matter i.e. solid, liquid and gases.
• It is not a reversible process.
• Membrane is not involved.
• For Example, Perfume is spread in one part of room soon it diffuses to whole room and you can smell it everywhere.
• Diffusion can be of two types i.e. Simple Diffusion and Facilitated Diffusion.

Simple Diffusion-

• It is a form of diffusion that does not require the membrane proteins. 
• It is towards the concentration gradient. 
• It does not involve expenditure of energy.

Facilitated Diffusion-

• It is selective transport of large molecules across the cell membrane.
• It is assisted by special proteins. 
• It involves no expenditure of energy.
• Hydrophilic substances are transported by Eight different type of Aquaporins.

Importance of Diffusion

• It allows the cells to gain useful substances
• It requires to obtain energy
• It removes waste products
• Digested food molecules move down a concentration gradient from the intestine to the blood

Osmosis

• It is defined as the diffusion of solvent from the solution of lower concentration to higher concentration.
• It happens only in the liquid state
• It is irreversible process
• Semi-permeable membrane is involved which allows the movement of solvent but does not allow the solute molecules to pass through it.
• It takes place only in the solvent part of the solution.
• For Example, The absorption of water by the plant roots from the soil
• Osmosis can be of two types, exosmosis and endosmosis

Exosmosis

• The loss of water molecules into a plant cell kept in a solution having higher solute concentration than that of cell-sap (hypertonic concentration)
• As a result, cell becomes flaccid.

Endosmosis

• The entry of water molecules into a plant cell placed in solution having lower solute concentration than that of cell sap (hypotonic concentration)
• The cell becomes turgid.

Importance of Osmosis

• It is a primary means by which water is transported in and out of the cells.
• It plays an important role in the transportation of nutrients and release of waste products out of the cell.
• Osmosis guarantees that all cells and structures inside a plant have correct water pressure and volume.

If you like our content don't be hesitate to share it with your friends and family members. If you want to ask anything regarding this post, you can continue us by commenting down below.

If you like to read the Educational Blog, you can read in bioeducation1.blogspot.com