Diffusion

Question 1

What does diffusion mean?

Answer 1

The net movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Question 2

Is diffusion a passive process?

Answer 2

Yes as no energy is needed for it to happen.

Question 3

True or False: Small, non-polar molecules such as oxygen and carbon dioxide are able to diffuse easily through spaces between phospholipids.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

True or False: Water is small enough to fit between phospholipids, so it’s able to diffuse across plasma membranes even though it’s polar.

Answer 4

True and the diffusion of water molecules like this is called osmosis.

Question 5

What factors affects the rate of diffusion?

Answer 5

• Concentration gradient - the higher it is the faster the rate of diffusion.

• The distance the particles have to travel - the shorter the distance the faster the rate of diffusion.

• The surface area - the larger the surface area, the faster the rate of diffusion.

• The temperature - the warmer it is, the faster the rate of diffusion because the particles have more kinetic energy so they move faster.