1. Water Potential Problems

2. Water Potential ()

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

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

5. 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

6. Water moves high to low
High 
Low 

7. Addition of solutes = a more negative solute potential.
More negative = lower water potential so water moves toward high solute area
S < 0
Solutes bind H2O mol. reducing # free H2O mol. so lower potential of water to do work (water potential)

8. In an open container or in an animal cell, the pressure potential will be 0.
No effect on water movement
P = 0

9. Pressure potential is the physical pressure on a solution.
In an open container it is the atmospheric pressure. At STP = 0 P

10. In turgid plant cells, the cell wall can exert positive pressure.
Turgor pressure = pressure exerted by expanding
cell membrane pushing on a cell wall
p > 0
turgor pressure = wall pressure
When wall pressure = tendency for water to enter…
 = 0

11. Solute Potential (S)

12. 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

13. 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.

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

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

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

17. 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

18. 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).

19. 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: bars
Explanation: S = -iCRT
S = -(1)( )( )(293K)
S = -2.4 bars
= P + S
= 0 + (-2.4 bars) = -2.4 bars
mole L
L bar
mole· K
 = ?