Diffusion

Diffusion is the movement of particles from a region of high concentration to a region of low
concentration along a concentration gradient , until no net movement is seen (ie. Until
Equilibrium). This is a passive process.

Diffusion in gases:

Eg.

In an experiment the apparatus was set up as shown above, ammonia gas and hydrogen
chloride gas evaporated from the respective pads and reacted to for a white ring of
ammonium chloride. The white ring was formed closer to the hydrochloric acid end as the
molecular mass of the hydrogen chloride is much larger than that of ammonia.

Bromine solid sublimes to bromine gas at rtp. This gas will diffuse to create a uniform spread
Diffusion in liquids

As liquefied potassium permanganate is added to the beaker with water the kmno4 molecules
will spread over time until a uniform purple solution is seen.

Let’s consider an example:

you are spraying an air freshener in the air and soon you realize that the scent has spread all
over the room. The mixture in the air freshener bottle is the region of higher concentration,
and the room is a region of lower concentration. So the differences in the concentration
gradients is what that causes diffusion.

Diffusion in cells
When a living cell such as a plant or an animal cell is considered, there is an obstacle that can
affect diffusion: A partially permeable cell membrane which controls the movement of
substances.

Importance:
Diffusion is needed by living organisms for:

1. Obtaining necessary requirements needed for metabolism

2. Getting rid of waste and toxic substances

Examples:
 Plants need carbon dioxide for photosynthesis; carbon dioxide is just 0.04% in the
atmosphere, but still there is lesser volume of it in the plant cells. So the atmosphere is the
region of higher concentration and the leaves are regions of lower concentration.
 The same example of the leaf can be used with oxygen, which is a waste product for the
plant. Oxygen diffuses from it’s region of production (higher concentration) to the
atmosphere where it is scattered (lower concentration)
 Diffusion is also used by insect pollinated flowering plants to send out the scent of the
nectar they produce to attract insects.
 Osmosis
Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules from a region of high water potential (region
which has more water molecules) to a region of low water potential (region which has less
water molecules), down a water potential gradient, through a selectively permeable
membrane. Until dynamic equilibrium is achieved. This is a passive process.

Partially permeable membranes

As described previously, partially permeable membranes are those which restrict the passage
of molecules which exceed a particular size.
Cell membranes play a pivotal role in Osmosis as only water molecules are allowed to pass
through the cell membrane.

Visking tubing is an artificial form of the natural cell membrane.

Osmosis in animal cells:

In concentrated solution (Low water potential)

 animal cells shrink as they have a higher water potential than their surroundings

In dilute solution (High water potential)

 Animal cells burst as their surroundings have a higher water potential than them and water
enters their cells up to such an extent that their cell membranes burst

Osmosis in plant cells

In concentrated solution (Low water potential)

 Plant cells become plasmolysed as they have a higher water potential than their
surroundings

In dilute solution (High water potential)

 Plant cells become turgid, but do not burst, as they have a supportive cell wall that is
tougher than their cell membrane.

ACTIVE TRANSPORT

This is the movement of particles from a region of low concentration to high concentration
against a concentration gradient, this is an active process.

The importance of active transport in living organisms

 Mineral ion transport- mineral ions move from the soil into the plant roots by active
transport.
 Sugar produced in photosynthesis is moved into the phloem by active transport, ie
active loading
 Some glucose and amino acids produced in digestion are absorbed from the ileum into
the blood by active transport.
 Useful substances are reabsorbed from the filtrate in the kidney tubules into the blood
by active transport.