Diffusion, Osmosis,

Active Transport

Biology Notes
GCE Study Buddy
 Diffusion
Diffusion is the net movement of ions or molecules
from a region of higher concentration to a region of
lower concentration, down a concentration gradient
In liquids and gases, molecules possess kinetic
energy and constantly move about
As this movement is random, an equilibrium is
reached when the molecules are evenly spread out,
where there is no more net change dynamic
equilibrium reached
The steeper the gradient for a substance, the faster
the rate of diffusion
No energy input is required for diffusion because the
particles already are in motion.
Hence, it is know as passive transport
 Diffusion
permeable
membrane
water

20 20 10 10
potassium copper potassium copper
iodide ions sulphate ions Key iodide ions, sulphate ions,
10 10
potassium iodide ions
copper potassium
copper sulphate ions sulphate ions iodide ions
 Factors affecting
diffusion
What are some factors affecting the rate of
diffusion?
Concentration gradient
Temperature
Pressure
size of particles
surface area to volume ratio
 Osmosis
Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from a
solution of higher water potential to a solution of
lower water potential through a partially
permeable membrane
Water potential is a measure of the tendency of water
to move from one place to another
A water potential gradient is established when a
partially-permeable membrane separates two
solutions of different water potentials.
A dilute solution contains more water molecules per
unit volume than a concentrated solution so it has a
higher water potential than a concentrated solution
 Osmosis
Osmotic pressure is the pressure that
must be applied to a solution to prevent the
inward flow of water across a partially
permeable membrane .
Osmotic pressure is the opposite of water
potential.
A partially permeable membrane is a
membrane that will allow certain molecules
or ions to pass through it by diffusion.
The cell membrane is partially permeable.
What other structures or organs are partially
permeable?
 Osmosis
rise in level

A B A B A B

5% drop in
sucrose level
water
solution
(more molecules
water, diffuse
less from B to
sucrose) A.
partially
permeable
membrane
8 sucrose 4 sucrose 8 sucrose 4 sucrose
Key
molecules, molecules, molecules, molecules,
9 water 18 water sucrose molecule 18 water 9 water
molecules molecules molecules molecules
water molecule
Net movement of water
molecules
 Hypotonic, Isotonic,
Hypertonic
(animal cells only)

Equal water potential

Lower water potential Higher water potential
 Plant cell in high
water potential

solution
As water enters the cell, the vacuole increases
in size and pushes the cell contents against the
cellulose cell wall. The cell wall prevents over
expansion of the cell by exerting an opposing
pressure preventing the entry of more water
A plant in this state becomes turgid
The turgidity of the cell with water is called
turgor pressure
The plant cell does not burst because the cell
wall is strong and relatively inelastic
 Animal cell in high
water potential

solution
Animal cell will swell and may bust in a
hypotonic solution because it does not have a
cell wall
in a solution with high
water potential
 Plant cell in low water
potential solution
The water potential of the cell sap is higher than that
of the solution outside the cell. Osmosis takes place
and water moves out of the cell

As water is lost from the cell, the vacuole decreases in

size and the cytoplasm shrinks away from the cellulose
cell wall.

This shrinkage of the cytoplasm away from the cell wall

when plant cells are immersed in a solution of low
water potential is known as plasmolysis

The cells are said to be plasmolysed. The cells can be

restored by placing them in water or solution of high
water potential
Plant cell in low water
potential solution
water leaves by osmosis
Cytoplasm shrinks away from cell
wall

in a solution with low

water potential

As the cell loses water, the vacuole

decreases in size.
The cell becomes plasmolysed
 Animal cell in low
water potential

solution
Animal cells in hypertonic solution: it will lose
water and the cell membrane will form little
spikes as water is lost and the cell shrinks, a
process called crenation. The cell dies eventually
Spikes form
in a solution with low
water potential
 Turgor in plants
Turgor is very important in maintaining the shape of
soft tissues in plants

Young stems and most leaves, esp. those of

herbaceous or non-woody plants, can remain firm and
erect because of the turgor pressure within their cells.

When there is a high rate of evaporation of water from

the cells, they lose their turgidity and the plant wilts

The movement of certain plants are due to changes in

turgor
Eg opening and closing of the stomata, folding of leaflets
of the Mimosa plant
 Active Transport
Active transport is the process in which energy
is used to move the particles of a substance
against a concentration gradient from a region
of lower concentration to a region of higher
concentration
Occurs in living cells because only living cells
respire
 Active transport
The energy used in cells is called ATP.
Active transport requires:
Protein transporters
ATP (or energy)
Active transport occurs in:
Absorption of mineral salts by root hair cells.
Absorption of glucose and amino acids by cells in
the small intestine.
Na-K pump
 Example of Active
Transport
Absorption of mineral salts by root hair cells

The soil solution has to have a higher water potential than

the root hair cell in order for water to move into the root
hair cell by osmosis.

This means that the soil solution has a lower concentration

of ions (ie. mineral salts) than the root hair cell.

Therefore, active transport is used to transport ions into

the root hair cell.

Specific transporter proteins

Energy expended.
 Transport of large
molecules
Some substances are too large to cross
the plasma membrane by diffusion,
facilitated diffusion and osmosis
Other means of transport are necessary:
Endocytosis
Exocytosis
 Surface area: Volume
ratio
The greater the
area of cell
surface
membrane, the
faster will be the
rate of diffusion
of a substance
for a given
concentration
gradient
 Surface area: Volume
ratio
The greater the surface area to volume ratio,
the faster the rate of diffusion.
This explains why cells are so small: nutrients,
oxygen and waste substances have to diffuse
into and out of cells quickly.
Eg.
 Question
Four clear agar blocks were placed into solutions
of methylene blue as shown. Which agar block
would be first to become completely stained?

A B C D

4mm 6mm
4mm
2mm
2mm 2mm 4mm
2mm 4mm
2mm 2mmRanee Mohan 2mm
 Question
An experiment to
investigate osmosis is set Tube X
up as shown. What
happens?
Volume of Concentratio
the liquid n of the sugar
in tube X solution Partially
A Decreases Decreases permeable
membrane
B Decreases Increases
C Increases Decreases
D Increases Increases
Ranee Mohan
 Question
A plasmolysed cell is shown. Which numbered
structures are partially-permeable?

A. 1 only
1
B. 2 only

C. 1 and 2 only 2
D. 1 and 3 only
3
 Question
Four identical pieces of potato are treated
in two stages, as shown. Which piece of
potato will be the largest after two hours?
Stage 1 Stage 2
A Boiled in water Placed in 10% salt
for 10 min solution
B Boiled in water Placed in distilled water
for 10 min
C Unboiled Placed in 10% salt
solution
D Unboiled Ranee Mohan
Placed in distilled water
 Question
Which one of the following enters plant cells by
active transport?

A. Carbon dioxide

B. Nitrate ions

C. Water

D. Oxygen