CH#3: Movement of Substances

Diffusion
The net movement of ions/molecules from a region of higher concentration to a
region of lower concentration i.e. down a diffusion/concentration
gradient(difference in concentration between two regions). The steeper the
gradient for a substance, the faster the diffusion rate of it.

Why diffusion occurs:

 Liquids and gases continually moving randomly(due to kinetic energy) until

equilibrium(when the molecules are evenly spaced out) is reached.

 Dynamic Equilibrium: molecules are moving but the same number of

molecules are everywhere so; no net change.

Solute Diffusion
Solvent(liquid) + solute(dissolved solid particles) = Solution

The solute diffuses evenly throughout the solvent. For multiple solutes, each
diffuses independently of the other. Levels in solutions stabilize when there is an
equal concentration of water.

Osmosis
The movement of water molecules from a solution of higher water potential to a
solution of lower water potential through a partially permeable membrane.

P.P.M.: a membrane that allows some substances through and not others.
Water Potential: the amount of "free water" i.e. concentration.

Concentrated solution: lower water potential, less molecules of water/

unit volume.

Dilute solution : higher water potential, more molecules of water/

unit volume.

Hypertonic Isotonic Hypotonic

Concentrated; lower w.p. Same w.p. Dilute; higher w.p.
*all statements are relative to the other solution in comparison

Osmosis in Living Organisms

Animal cells' cell membrane is a p.p.m., allowing water and dissolved
substances(O2+H2O) through but is impermeable to larger substances like
proteins.

Cells in solutions of higher water potential

Plants
Cell sap has lower w.p. than the solution, water enters via osmosis through ppm.

Cell expands, becomes turgid. Vacuole increases in size, pushes against cell wall.
Cell does not burst due to the inelastic cell wall. Turgor: turgidity of cell with
water. Turgor pressure: pressure exerted by water in vacuole on cell wall.

Animals
Animal cell will swell, eventually burst in a hypotonic solution; no cell wall to
protect it.
Cells in solutions of the same water potential
Cells immersed in isotonic solutions will not change size or shape.

Cells in solutions of lower same water potential

Plants
Cell has higher w.p. than the solution, water leaves via osmosis through ppm.

As the cell loses water, vacuole decreases in size, plasmolysis; cytoplasm and cell
membrane shrinks away from cell wall. Restoration if placed in an hypotonic
solution. Cell becomes flaccid/limp.

Animals
Cell will lose water in an hypertonic solution, crenation; cell shrinks and spikes
appear on the cell surface membrane. Dehydration results and cell death can
occur.

Importance of Turgor
 Shape maintenance

 Firmness

 Loss of turgidity(in high evaporation rates) causes the plant to wilt

 Movements of certain part plants occur due to turgor. Ex: opening/closing

of the stomata by the guard cells.

Active Transport
The process in which energy is used to move the particles of a substance from a
region where they are in lower concentration to a region where they are in higher
concentration i.e. against a concentration gradient.
Ex: Absorption of

 dissolved mineral salts by root hairs

 glucose and amino acids by cells in the small intestines of humans.

Surface Area to Volume Ratio

The greater the area of the cell surface membrane, the faster the diffusion rate of
a substance.

Adaptations
Long processes/folded cell membranes greatly increase the SA of the cell
membrane through which materials can be absorbed into the cell.