What are the effects of osmosis on cells?

Osmosis enables cells to regulate their internal environment, ensuring cellular stability and adapting to changes in the surrounding solute levels. For example, if the external environment becomes hypertonic (higher solute concentration), water will move out of the cell, causing it to shrink. When placed in a hypotonic solution (a solution with lower solute concentration compared to the cytoplasm), water enters the cell, causing it to swell. However, the cell membrane prevents excessive swelling and potential bursting by exerting inward pressure, known as turgor pressure.

Additionally, osmotic gradients across cell membranes drive the movement of water and dissolved substances into and out of cells, facilitating essential processes such as nutrient uptake and waste removal. For example, when plant cells are placed in a diluted solution or water, they absorb water through osmosis. Similarly, root hair cells absorb water through osmosis when the soil is wet or moist.