2.

DIFFUSION AND OSMOSIS

Content

2.1 Diffusion

2.2 Osmosis

2.3 Active transport

 
 

Diffusion
 

Diffusion is
the net movement of
molecules from a region of
its higher concentration to a
region of
its lower concentration. Molecul
es
move down a concentration g
radient, as a result of
their random movement.
 
 

For living cells, the principle of the movement down a concentration

gradient is the same, but there is one problem:
The cell is surrounded by a cell membrane, which can restrict the free
movement of the molecules  à
 
 
This is a selective permeable membrane: the composition of the
membrane (lipid and protein) allows some molecules to cross with ease,
but others with difficulty or not at all. The simplest sort of selection is
based on the sizeof the molecules.
 

Importance of gaseous and solute diffusion

Diffusion helps living organisms to:
→ obtain many of their requirements
→ get rid of many of their waste products
→ gas exchange for respiration

Examples
CO2 uses by plants for photosynthesis is diffuses from the air into the
leaves, through the stomata (pores at the surface of leaves). There is a
lower concentration of CO2 inside the leaf, as the cells are using it up.
O2 (waste product of photosynthesis diffuses out in the same way).
 
Flowering plants use diffusion to attract pollinators like bees.
Some of the products of digestion are absorbed from the ileum of
mammals by diffusion.
 
 

Site of diffusion Substance Description

Alveoli of lungs O2 Alveoli à Blood capillaries
CO2 Blood capillaries à Alveoli
Stomata of leaf O2 Air spaces of leaf à Atmosphere
 

Factors favoring diffusion

o   Distance (the shorter the better), e.g. thin walls of alveoli and capillaries.
o   Concentration gradient (the bigger the better). This can be
maintained by removing the substance as it passes across the diffusion
surface. (Think about oxygenated blood being carried away from the
surface of alveoli).
o   Size of the molecules (the smaller the better).
o   Surface area for diffusion (the larger the better).
o   Temperature (molecules have more kinetic energy at higher
temperature).
 

Importance of water as a solvent

 

Most cells
contain about 75% of wate.
Many substances move around a cell dissolved in water.
Many important reactions take place in water.
 
 
 
 

Osmosis                       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules from a region of

their higher concentration to a region of their lower concentration,
through a partially permeable membrane.
Osmosis is a special form of diffusion and always involves the movement of H2O
across a membrane. Osmosis is:
the movement of H2O
across a selectively permeable membrane
down a water potential gradient.

In the picture below

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
- The concentration of sugar molecules
is higher on the concentrated solution (L) and lower on
the diluted one (R).
 
- The concentration of water molecules is higher on the (R) and lower on
the (L) (a lot of place is taken up by sugar molecules).
 
It is confusing to talk about the 'concentration of water', so we can say that
a diluted solution (R) has a high water potential and a concentrated
solution (L) has a low water potential.
 

There is a water potential gradient between the 2 sides. The water molecules

diffuse down this gradient, from a high water potential (R) to a low water
potential (L).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Cell membranes
o   partially permeable (let some substances pass through, but not others).
o   Separate 2 solutions: cytoplasm and solution around the cell.
o   If the solutions are of different concentrations, osmosis will occur.

 
Effect of Osmosis on plant and animal cells
1. When placed in H2O:
 
Concentration of H2O outside the cell is
higher than inside it. Cells will take
in H2O by osmosis:
 

→   plant cells become turgid (swollen) but do
not burst (have tough cell wall which is fully permeable).
→   animal cells will burst (no cell
wall).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

2. When placed in concentrated sugar

or salt solutions:
 
Concentration of H2O inside the cell
is higher than outside it. H2O get out of the cells by osmosis:
 

o plant cells become flaccid (soft and limp), cytoplasm is no longer

pressed against the cell wall. The plant loses it firmness and begin
to wilt.
o animal cells shrink, become crenated.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Active transport
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sometimes substances are required to
 be move against the Concentration
Gradient, or faster than they would by
Passive Transport. In these cases, Active Processes are used, which
require energy.
 
 

There are many occasions when cells need to take in substances which

are only present in small quantities around them.
 
E.g. root hair cells in plants take in nitrate ions from the soil. Their
concentration are often higher inside the root hair cell than in the soil,
so
the diffusion gradient is from the root hair à the soil. Despite this, the
root hair cells still can take nitrate ions in, by active transport.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
The importance of active transport: energy-consuming process by which
substances are transported against a concentration gradient, e.g. ion
uptake by root hairs and glucose uptake by epithelial cells of villi.
 

Two differences between diffusion and active transport:

 
o   direction of movement (down or up a gradient)
o   use of energy for movement
 
The active transport is carried out by ‘carrier proteins’ in the membrane,
which bind to the solute molecule, change shape and carry the molecule
across the membrane.