Water Potential Problems

Water Potential ()

Water potential of pure water in an open container is 0. = p + s Water PRESSURE SOLUTE Potential Potential Potential = 0 + 0 Water PRESSURE SOLUTE Potential Potential Potential

Water will flow from an area of higher water potential to an area of lower water potential.  

Question: Which way will the water flow Question: Which way will the water flow? Into the cell or out of the cell? Answer: Water will flow into the cell. Explanation: Water will continue to flow in both directions. However, more water will be entering the cell. So the NET MOVEMENT of water will be INTO the cell. Water will flow from an area of higher water potential to an area of lower water potential (from  = -0.5 to  = -2.5). This will continue until dynamic equilibrium is reached.  = -2.5  = -0.5

Addition of solutes = a more negative solute potential.

In an open container or in an animal cell, the pressure potential will be 0.

In turgid plant cells, the cell wall can exert positive pressure.

Solute Potential (S)

i = ionization constant For sucrose, i = 1 because sucrose does not ionize in water. For NaCl, i = 2 because NaCl ionizes when it dissolves and becomes one Na+ and one Cl- ion in an aqueous solution. 1 ion + 1 ion = 2 ions

Question: For MgCl2, what would i be? Answer: i = 3 Explanation: Mg would ionize into 3 ions if dissolved in water: one Mg2+ ion and two Cl- ions.

C is the molar concentration of the solution. Moles Solute Volume of Solution moles L Molarity = M =

R is the pressure constant. Always will be 0.0831 L bars / mole K

T = temperature in Kelvin Kelvin is the temperature in degrees Celsius + 273. Question: Room temperature is about 20°C. What would this be in Kelvin? Answer: 20 + 273 = 293K

Example: If a cell’s P = 3 bars and S = -4 Example: If a cell’s P = 3 bars and S = -4.5 bars, what is the resulting ?  = P + S Answer: = 3 bars + (-4.5 bars) = -1.5 bars

Question: A cell with a  = -1 Question: A cell with a  = -1.5 bars is placed in a beaker with a solution of  = -4 bars. Will water flow into or out of the cell? Answer: Water will flow out of the cell from an area of higher water potential (-1.5 bars) to an area of lower water potential (-4 bars).

Question: What is the  of a 0 Question: What is the  of a 0.1 M solution of sucrose in at open container at 20°C? = P + S S = -iCRT Answer: -2.4 bars Explanation: S = -iCRT S = -(1)(0.1 )(0.0831 )(293K) S = -2.4 bars = P + S = 0 + (-2.4 bars) = -2.4 bars mole L L bar mole· K  = ?