What is the difference between endosmosis and exosmosis?
Osmosis is the movement of water molecules through a semi-permeable membrane. It can either be endosmosis or exosmosis.
The core difference between endosmosis and exosmosis is that endosmosis involves the movement of water into the cell via cell membrane while exosmosis is the movement of water out of the cell via the cell membrane.
What Is Endosmosis?
Endosmosis refers to the movement of water into the cell via a semi-permeable membrane. It occurs when the level of water in the surrounding environment is higher than that of the cell.
A hypotonic solution is responsible for inducing endosmosis and this could result in cell turgidity. The process of endosmosis help plant to absorb water via root hairs.
What Is Exosmosis?
Exosmosis refers to the movement of water out of the cell via the cell membrane. The condition happens since the level of solute concentration in the cytosol is lower than that of the surrounding environment.
The process makes the cell shrink and this can be restored by placing the cell in a hypotonic solution. Therefore, a hypertonic solution is responsible for cell shrinkage.
Plasmolysis of the cell can occur when the cell is placed in a strong hypertonic solution. This makes the cell to die since the cell become dehydrated.
Comparison Chart: Endosmosis vs Exosmosis
| Basic Terms | Endosmosis | Exosmosis |
| Definition | Refers to osmosis towards the inside of the cell | Refer to osmosis towards outside of the cell |
| Water Movement | Moves into the cell | Moves out of the cell |
| Type of Solutions | Hypotonic solution | Hypertonic solution |
| Solute Concentration | Solute concentration inside the cell is higher than that of the surroundings | Solute concentration outside the cell is higher than that inside the cell |
| Water Potential | The water potential of the cytosol is higher than the surrounding. | Water potential of the cytosol is lower than the surrounding |
| Result | Cell turgidity | Cell shrinkage |
| Human significance | Causes intoxication | Causes dehydration |
| Examples | The absorption of capillary water from the soil by roots and the entrance of water into the xylem vessels. | The movement of water from the root hair cells to the cortical cells of the root. |
Core Difference between Exosmosis and Endosmosis
- Endosmosis is the movement of water into the cell while exosmosis is the movement of water out of the cell.
- Endosmosis is where the cell has high solute concentration while exosmosis is where the cell has a low solute concentration
- The water potential in endosmosis is higher outside the cell while in exosmosis is higher inside the cell
- Endosmosis results in cell turgidity and bursting of the cell while exosmosis results in cell shrinkage and plasmolysis.
- Hypertonic solution induces exosmosis while hypotonic solution induces endosmosis
- Endosmosis is the osmosis towards the inside of the cell while exosmosis is the osmosis towards the outside of the cell.
- An example of endosmosis is when raisins swell when placed in normal water while exosmosis is when raisins shrivel when placed in the concentrated salt solution.
- The endosmosis in human cause intoxication while exosmosis causes dehydration
Read More: Difference between Osmosis and Diffusion
Comparison Video
Summary
Endosmosis and exosmosis are the two main types of osmosis. Both involve the movement of water into and out of the cell. The core difference between endosmosis and exosmosis is the different direction of water movement.