Chapter 2: Movement Of Substances🧪 Flashcards
Diffusion
Net movement of particles from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration, down a concentration gradient
Concentration gradient
Different between concentration between two regions
Factors affecting rate of diffusion
- Temperature (higher temp, faster diffusion)
- SA to vol ratio (larger ratio, higher diffusion)
- Concentration gradient (stepper gradient, faster diffusion)
- Size/ mass of particles (smaller, diffuse faster)
- Diffusion distance (shorter distance, faster diffusion)
- Diffusion medium (solid; slowest, liquid; faster, gas; fastest)
SA to volume ratio adaptations
Greater SA to volume ratio, faster the rate of diffusion
Increased SA to volume ratio in cells function in absorption (eg Root hair cell, epithelial cell)
Diffusion distance
Time taken for a substance to move from point point to another
Shorter diffusion distance, less time needed for substances to travel, increased rate of diffusion
Facilitated diffusion
Net movement of ion and polar (water soluble) molecules through cell membranes using specific protein channels or carriers down a concentration gradient
(Passive process, only relies on kinetic energy of molecules)
Osmosis
Net movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential to a region of lower water potential through a ppm
Water potential
Measure of tendency of water molecules to enter/leave solutions by osmosis
Potential of pure water: 0
Comparing water potential
- Hypotonic: less (solute)
- Isotonic: equal
- Hypertonic: more
Terms are used relative to another solution
Solution with higher water potential (plant cell)
Expand/ swell: protected by inelastic cell wall
- Cell sap has a lower water potential than solution
- Water enters via osmosis through the partially permeable cell membrane
- Cell expands and swells. Cell becomes turgid.
- Water molecules enter, vacuole size increases and pushes against the cell wall.
Turgor
Turgidity of cell with water
Turgor pressure
Pressure by water in vacuole
Solution with higher water potential (animal)
Cell swells and may burst as there is no cell wall to protect it
Water potential is higher than that of the cytoplasm
Same water potential
Same movement of water molecules in both directions
No net movement of water molecules in and out of cell
Solution with lower water potential (plant)
- Cell sap has higher water potential than solution
- By osmosis, water molecules leave vacuole and cytoplasm via ppm
- Cell decreases in size and becomes flaccid/limp.