5.3-5.5 - Diffusion, Osmosis, Active Transport Flashcards
Is simple diffusion a passive or active process?
Passive
Is facilitated diffusion a passive or active process ?
Passive
Is osmosis a active or passive process?
Passive
Is active transport a active or passive process?
Active -requires ATP energy
Is bulk transport active or passive process?
(Endocytosis and exocytosis) - active requires ATP energy
What is simple diffusion?
The net overall random movement of particles ( atoms, molecules , ions) from an region of high concentration to an region of lower concentration down a concentration gradient
What is facilitated diffusion?
The passive movement of molecules down a concentration gradient from an area of high to iow concentration across a membrane and involves special carrier and channel proteins in the membrane
What type of proteins enable facilitated diffusion?
• Channel proteins
• carrier proteins
What types of molecules use facilitated diffusion?
•Larger polar molecules eg. Amino acids, glucose or ions such as sodiumions and chloride ions cannot simply diffuse directly through the phospholipid layer of the cell surface membrane
• these substances can only cross the phospholipid bilayer with the help of certain proteins
What are channel proteins?
• water filled pores
• allow charged substances eg. Ions to diffuse through the cell membrane
• diffusion does not occur freely - they’re grated meaning they’re part of the channel protein on the inside surface of the membrane can move and close in order to close or open the pore

Name 5 factors that affect the rate of diffusion
•Temperature
• diffusion distance
• surface area
• size of molecule
• difference in concentration
Explain how a difference in concentration can affect the rate of diffusion
• the more particles there are in one area compared to another the steeper the concentration gradients
• therefore the faster the rate of diffusion
• this is due to more random frequent collisions of the particles
Explain how temperature affects the rate of diffusion
• higher the temperature = more kinetic energy the particles will have
• more frequent collisions between the particles as the particles are moving at higher speeds
• rate of diffusion thus increases
Explain how the surface area of a membrane affects the rate of diffusion
• larger the surface area of the membrane = the more area there is for particles to diffuse across
• rate of diffusion is faster
How does the thickness of the exchange surface/ membrane affects the rate of diffusion?
• thinner the exchange surface = shorter the diffusion pathway for molecules to pass through the membrane
• thus the rate of diffusion increases
What is surface area?
•Refers to the outside area ofan object eg.it is the area around the outside of a cell
• units = Cm^2
What is volume?
•Refers to the amount of space inside of the object eg. It is the space inside the cell
• unit = Cm^3
How are organs specialised to ensure diffusion is efficient?
- Have a large surface area - increases the rate of diffusion
- A membrane that is thin this provides a short diffusion distance
- Animals have an efficient blood supply surrounding the exchange surface
- Large SA: V ratio - there is more surface area relative to the volume inside
What are the adaptations of the intestines?
• many villi - increase the surface area
• single layer of surface cells - very thin walls
• very good blood supply to assist quick absorption
What are the adaptations of the alveoli?
• very thin walls are only one cell thick
• efficient blood supply network of capillaries around the alveoli
• large surface area - allowing fast exchange of gasses
• walls are moist - encouraging gas molecules to easily dissolve
What are the adaptations for gas exchange in fish?
• gills which are made up of many gill filaments -large surface area for gas exchange
• gills are covered in tiny structures called lamellae which increases the surface area
• lamellae are surrounded by blood capillaries- speed up the rate of diffusion
• counter current exchange system
• thin surface layer of cells to provide a short diffusion pathway for gasses