Passive Transport

Question 1

Define

Answer 1

The passive movement
of molecules from areas of
high concentration to areas of
low concentration (down the
concentration gradient)

Question 2

Why is it important?

Answer 2

Cytosol can preserve a specialised internal environment separate from the extracellular fluid.

Question 3

Why can diffusion occur?

Answer 3

• Kinetic energy which over time causes an even dispersion of particles in an area through randomly moving and bouncing off each other
• Hydrophobic molecules are easily transported across the membrane because most of the plasma membrane is hydrophobic
• The Plasma membrane is selectively permeable and therefore, only allows certain substances to cross it, which explains why only non-polar (hydrophobic molecules can be transported across it)

Question 4

How does it occur?