Case Study (Too Much of a Good Thing)

Benjamin Foster Physiology 10/23/2012 Case arena 1 (Too much of a good thing)) The definition of OSMOSIS is the movement of a resolving through a membrane separating two solutions of different concentrations. The solvent from the side of weaker concentration usually moves to the side of the stronger concentration, diluting it, until the concentrations of the solutions are equal on both sides of the membrane. Michael made numerous mistakes in this story that caused the corn field to die. The first mistake Michael made was to add the additional fertilizer to the crops.The especial(a) fertilizer around the roots of the corn produced a hypertonic environment. The cells disconnected wet because of the excessive fertilizer. The excess fertilizer caused the cell to turn hypertonic to the plant cell. This made the water diffuse from the plant cells into the soil by the process of OSMOSIS and the cells began to get smaller. The water would nourish eventually left the cells completely, which would have caused the plant cell to eventually die. Michaels second mistake is that he didnt remove the extra fertilizer.In theory, if he would have removed the extra fertilizer and add extra water, he could have possibly rescue the crops. People generally water their plants with only water which creates a isotonic environment around the roots of the plants and permits the plant roots to draw up minerals through the soil faster and easier for absorption without the intrusion of added solutes (extra fertilizer) which may behind the absorption process or even refrain the cells from absorbing the water and minerals through the roots.