Water Potential Notes
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Water Potential Notes

Osmotic Potential:

  • measure of tendency for H2O to cross a selectively permeable membrane from low concentration to high concentration of solute

proportional to concentration of solute à [high concentration = high osmotic pressure]

H2O Potential (Y):

High volume (concentration) H2O in one location represents great free energy.

(Free energy = energy available to do work)

H2O moves from high free energy to low free energy

*compared to pure water at 1 atm. in steady temperature

Y water (pure) = 0

Y water (cell) < 0 (negative value -D G)

Y = Y p + Y p

¯ Y p => ¯ y [ more neg. due to ­ solute concentration]

­ Y p => ­ y [ less neg. due to solute concentration]

­ y p = ­ Y , ­ energy content of H2O, ­ work ability

Y water (pure) = 0 [Add solute Y ¯ less than 0]

Solute in H2O lowers y , therefore, H2O moves from low solute (­ H2O) to high solute ( ¯ H2O)

 

Pressure applied increases y , ­ y p à ­ y

  • therefore, if ­ y p applied ( ­ atm. Pressure, ­ H2O moving into plant cell, H2O entering creates hydrostatic pressure pushing on cell wall)
  • the y increase ( ­ y inside cell due to ­ y pp cause intake of water to decrease and reach osmotic potential) => turgid in plant cells (may lyse in animal cells)
  • if negative pressure y p < 0 then partial vacuum (tension) created. Uncommon in plants except in 2° xylem (dead cells)

Pure H2O

High Y ­ y p or ­ Y p (high pressure. Low solute concentration) hypotonic

­ D G     .1

                .2

                    .3

                        .4

                            .5 *isotonic y p1 = y p2

                                .6

                                    .7

                                        .8

                                            .9 Y p or ¯ Y p]

                                                  1.0 M solution hypertonic

                                                    (low pressure, high solute concentration)

¯ D G

low Y

If plant in solvent w/ ¯ Y => lose H2O, plasmolysis

If plant in solvent w/ ­ Y => gain H2O, turgor