I'm having a hard time explaining "osmosis"......Can anyone offer a definition or example that a middle school child could better relate to.....?  Can it be equated to "absorption?"
205012
Osmosis is a special type of diffusion that only water can do.In a area of high water the water will move to a area of low water! Definition is....osmosis is a form of diffusion were water moves from a region of high water concentration to a region of low water concentration across a semi-permeable membrane!
523747
i think that if you categorise it  under physics/biology/chemistry, you might get a better response.\n\nnevertheless:\n\nhttp://school.discovery.com/homeworkhelp/bjpinchbeck/bjscience.html
422725
In a hypotonic solution, the concentration of solutes on the inside is HIGHER than on the outside, so to equilibrate this, the cell must allow either the solvent to flow in or it must transport the solutes out of the cell.  In an experiment, there is no active transport, so the only way to equilibrate the concentrations on the insides and outsides of the cell is by osmosis, the diffusion of water.  In a hypotonic solution, water will flow into the cell, and if the cell cannot contain it, then it will lyse.\n\nA hypertonic solution is when the concentration on the inside is LOWER than the outside, the it's the vice versa of the hypotonic solution situation above.\n\nAn isotonic solution means that the concentrations are equal, so the rate of water flowing in is equal to that of the rate of water flowing out.
236849
Education through osmosis, absolutely!!
486342
because of osmosis.  If you have a semi-permeable membrane separating a low level of salt solution and a high level of salt solution water will always travel toward the side with a higher concentration until it reaches equilibrium (the concentration is the same on both sides).  this is the case with bacteria or any other cell.  the cell membrane is semi-permeable.  If the bacteria lands on something that is very salty or very sugary the water will move from the inside of the cell to the outside of the cell to try to reach equilibrium.  The cell will shrivel and die because the water will be leaving it.  There are very few bacteria that can withstand this.  (of course there are some that can, there is ALWAYS an exception in biology)
445971
How quickly water boils is affected by Vegetable oil, Salt, and Sugar...But how??\n\nI know that one is long too, but ur topic needs to have a long title, and this one is catchy. Hope I have helped you. Have a glamorous day!
225981
some good projects for kids are at-http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/\nthese might be too easy for anyone older than a 3rd grader, but they're still something!\n my little brother is doing the water filter.  he's going to see which of the materials filters water best. good luck! :)
259109
I think you'd better to go to Wikipedia and check for some terms and definitions first.\nYou can find the wiki using simple words in explaining different things.
37906
osmosis is the movement of water across a membrane. \nWikipedia on the subject: \n\n"Osmosis is the diffusion of a solvent through a selectively-permeable membrane from a region of low solute concentration to a region of high solute concentration, or in other words, from a high water concentration to a low water concentration. The higher the solute concentration the lower the water concentration will be. The selectively-permeable membrane is permeable to the solvent, but not to the solute, resulting in a chemical potential difference across the membrane which drives the diffusion. That is, the solvent flows from the side of the membrane where the solution is weakest to the side where it is strongest, until the solution on both sides of the membrane is the same strength (that is, until the chemical potential is equal on both sides)."\n\nin short, if you put the potato in fresh water, the potato cells will burst, because water will enter the cells in an attempt to equalize the concentration of salt, etc. inside the cell to what is outside the cell.. if you put a potato in salt water, the cells will shrink, because water will exit them in an attempt to equalize the concentration of salt in the cell and outside of it. I realy don't know what the temperature of water will affect though.
226445
Easiest way to remember medical terminology is to learn how to break down the words. In this case... hypertonic (hyper=increased, tonic=osmotic pressure) and hypotonic (hypo=decreased, tonic=osmotic pressure). As you probably already know, osmotic pressure is the pressure that develops when two solutions of differnet concentrateions are seperated by a semimpermeable membrane, kinda like an egg when looking at the yolk versus the white.\n\nDon't laugh or groan, but I'm attaching a site that one of our instructors gave us when I was in school. It actually works and you can see where you're going with osmoality. Trust me, if you walk through the exercise, it'll click better than when anyone was trying to explain it to our class. \n\nGood luck!\n\nhttp://www.the-aps.org/education/outreach/outreach/acts-labs/halversn1.htm
598292
I'm a teacher and i always give the students the "Rope example"\n\nimagine equilibrium as a rope pulled with the same force both ways! \n\nnow if you look at the your chemical reaction energy (heath) is release from the reaction -----> so if you take the heath out (so you cool the system) the reaction ------> will be more power full so equilibrium will be moved in C and D direction.\n\nIf you heath the system (you'll have a lot of heath that needs to go somehow --- and the only way it can go is by the <--------- reaction -- which is a reaction that use heath ).\n\nThe same with pressure (but you need to have different amounts of molecules -- in your reaction you have the same -- 5 in the reaction ----> and 5 in the reaction <----)\n\nif you speak about concentration use the rope example. You put more of A(increase the concentration of A) , that A need to be consumed in order to keep the equilibrium.\n\nif you take A out of system (so reduce the concentration of A) you'll encourage the <---- reaction (reaction that release more A)\n\nI don't know if you'll understand my spelling and grammar (I'm not the aching chemistry in English). \nI'm just curious what grade are you on? because  I teach this subject to 10th grade students (16 years old )\n\nIf you want me to try to rephrase this answer just let me know \njustplaincornnel@yahoo.com
336076
look up thesaurus online, and it will return many online thesaurus sources for you to input your word. apparently a classmate of yours is doing the same homework, I answered this question ten minutes ago. ;)\n basic, elementary, essential, fundamental, primitive, ultimate, underlying(elemental)\n\nabsorb, digest, imbibe, take up, soak up(assimilated)
481391
At any time, the number of molecules colliding with the membrane is proportional to its concentration. Since the membrane is permeable to your molecule, the number of molecules passing from concentrated side to diluted side is more than vice-versa.This gives the appearance of molecules moving down the concentration gradient. Just remember that the process occurs on both sides but is  higher on concentrated side. When concentrations get equal, the molecules going to either side is equal and there is no net change. Dont you wonder why this stage is called equilibrium?
355947
because in osmosis/ diffusion, solvent / solute moves across a barier to balance the concentration. since the water is saltier than normal, either water has to come out of the cells to dilute it, or salt has to go into the cells to make them more concentrated. either one is bad for cells, but in terms of osmosis, it is the water that does the moving, leaving the cells dehydrated.
501842
I actually turned this exact lab in at the begining of this semester for my College Bio class for Osmosis.  The shell of the egg does dissolve in the vinager and the egg still has the membrane attached.  After being in the vinegar you put it in the syrup and the syrup draws the water out of the egg because the syrup is heavier and has larger molecules that will not go into the egg and the egg is all shriveled up and the volume of the syrup is increased by 50 ml after being in the H2O for 24 hours it will draw the water back into the egg and your volume will decrease by 50ml.  It feels like a water balloon it is awesome.  If you get a chance, go ahead and do the experiement, I had my 8 year old help me and then he took it to school for show and tell.
70453
Well, what grade are you in, and how long does it have to be?  It really depends on what grade you are in.  Is this just the introduction?  Why don't you try, "In this day and age, the topic of water conservation is becoming increasingly more important, as droughts and limited water resources take a toll on the world's (town, state, whatever) water supply."
65555
diffusion is when molecules move from greater concentration to lesser, to achieve equilibrium. osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules.