EXERCISE 1: Cell Transport Mechanisms and Permeability

Activity 1: Simulating Dialysis (Simple Diffusion) (pp. 46)

1.Describe two variables that affect the rate of diffusion. Increasing the size of the solute decreases
the rate of diffusion Increasing the concentration of a solute increases the rate of diffusion.
2. Why do you think the urea was not able to diffuse through the 20 MWCO membrane? How well did the
results compare with your prediction? Urea was not able to diffuse because it was too large to fit through the
pores. This matched the prediction made. Student predictions vary.
3. Describe the results of the attempts to diffuse glucose and albumin through the 200 MWCO membrane.
How well did the results compare with your prediction? Glucose was able to diffuse through the 200
MWCO; the albumin, however, was too large. Student predictions vary.
4. Put the following in order from smallest to largest molecular weight: glucose, sodium chloride, albumin, and
urea. The following are put in order from smallest to largest: sodium chloride, urea, glucose and albumin.

ACTIVITY 2: SIMULATED FACILITATED DIFFUSION (PP. 68)

1. Explain one way in which facilitated diffusion is the same as simple diffusion and one way in which it
differs. Similarities include: solutes move with their concentration gradient; the processes are both passive. A
difference is that facilitated diffusion requires a carrier.
2. The larger value obtained when more glucose carriers were present corresponds to an increase in the rate of
glucose transport. Explain why the rate increased. How well did the results compare with your prediction? With
more carriers present, more glucose is able to be moved across the membrane. The correct prediction is that
the rate increases.
3. Explain your prediction for the effect Na+Cl- might have on glucose transport. In other words, explain why
you picked the choice that you did. How well did the results compare with your prediction? Na+Cl should have
no effect because it is not required for the transport of the glucose. The carrier is only moving glucose.

Activity 3: Simulating Osmotic Pressure (pp. 810)

1.Explain the effect that increasing the Na+Cl- concentration had on osmotic pressure and why it has this effect.
How well did the results compare with your prediction? Increasing the Na+Cl concentration increased the
osmotic pressure, because these variables are directly proportional to each other.
2. Describe one way in which osmosis is similar to simple diffusion and one way in which it is different.
Osmosis is similar because it is a passive process. It is different because it is the movement of water, rather
than solutes.
3. Solutes are sometimes measured in milliosmoles. Explain the statement, Water chases milliosmoles. The
net movement of water is with its concentration gradient. This means that it moves toward the higher
concentration of solutes.
4. The conditions were 9 mM albumin in the left beaker and 10 mM glucose in the right beaker with the 200
MWCO membrane in place. Explain the results. How well did the results compare with your prediction?
The osmotic pressure was generated by the albumin, which was too large to diffuse. The glucose diffused
through the membrane.
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Ch 01-1

Activity 4: Simulating Filtration (pp. 1113)

1. Explain in your own words why increasing the pore size increased the filtration rate. Use an analogy to
support your statement. How well did the results compare with your prediction? Increasing the pore size
should proportionally increase the filtration rate.
2. Which solute did not appear in the filtrate using any of the membranes? Explain why. The powdered
charcoal did not appear in the filtrate because it was too large to go through.
3. Why did increasing the pressure increase the filtration rate but not the concentration of solutes? How well
did the results compare with your prediction? At the lower pressure, all of the solutes were filtering through,
so increasing the pressure just caused them to filter through faster.
Activity 5: Simulating Active Transport (pp. 1314)
1. Describe the significance of using 9 mM sodium chloride inside the cell and 6 mM potassium chloride
outside the cell, instead of other concentration ratios. The concentration of the ions is significant because
sodium and potassium are transported at a ratio of three to two, respectively, by the pump.
2. Explain why there was no sodium transport even though ATP was present. How well did the results
compare with your prediction? Sodium and potassium are required to move these ions using the pump. If
one is absent movement will not occur.
3. Explain why the addition of glucose carriers had no effect on sodium or potassium transport. How well did
the results compare with your prediction? Glucose is not tied in any way to the movement of sodium or
potassium in this simulation. It is moving through its own carrie.
4. Do you think glucose is being actively transported or transported by facilitated diffusion in this experiment?
Explain your answer. Glucose is moving with its concentration gradient through a carrier. This is facilitated
diffusion.

Ch 01-2

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