Characteristics of Materials Flashcards
1
Q
How size influences permeability
A
Permeable to small molecules
e.g. urea and water
Impermeable to large molecules
e.g. glucose and amino acids
2
Q
How charge influences permeabilty
A
Refers to whether the molecule has a positive, negative or neutral charge
Permeable to uncharged molecules
e.g. oxygen and carbon dioxide
Impermeable to charged ions
e.g. potassium and sodium
3
Q
How solubility influences permeability
A
Refers to how easily and quickly the materials can dissolve in the cell membrane
Only applies to materials that are small and neutral
4
Q
The cell membrane is permeable to
A
Oxygen, carbon dioxide, alcohol and steroids
Mostly to water and urea
5
Q
The cell membrane is impermeable to
A
Ions, glucose and amino acids
