B 1.6 Diffusion

Question 1

What is diffusion?

Answer 1

Diffusion is the spreading out of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

Question 2

Does diffusion require energy to occur?

Answer 2

No

Question 3

Where can can diffusion happen and why?

Answer 3

Diffusion happens in both solutions and gases because the particles in these substances are free to move around randomly.

Question 4

Describe and explain the factors that affect diffusion.

Answer 4

Distance- the shorter the distance, the faster the rate of diffusion because the molecules that have a shorter distance, will diffuse quicker.

Temperature- the higher the temperature, the higher the rate of diffusion because the velocity of the molecules increases due to a rise in temperature, causing them to move faster, therefore diffuse faster.

Concentration gradient- the higher the concentration gradient, the quicker the rate of diffusion because there are more particles to diffuse.

SA/V Ratio- the lower the SA/V Ratio, the quicker the rate of diffusion because when a cell grows its volume increases at a greater rate than its surface area, therefore its SA/V ratio decreases.

Question 5

The smaller the organism, the ….…

Answer 5

the larger/greater the SA/V Ratio