Factors affecting membrane

Question 1

What are the factors affecting membrane structure?

Answer 1

• Temperature
• Solvent

Question 2

What does an increase in temperature do?

Answer 2

• Gain kinetic energy
• The weak intermolecular forces inbetween the phospholipids break
• Denatures protein channel/carriers
• There are more gaps for simple diffusion to take place
• Affects permeability

Question 3

What does a non polar solvent do?

Answer 3

A non polar solvent can insert themselves within the bilayer which causes some of the fatty acid tails to bend. This is because the head is hydrophilic (polar) and the tails are hydrophobic(non polar).
* This disrupts the weak intermolecular forces
* This disrupts the bilayer
* There are bigger gaps which increases permeability