Chapter 4 - Movement of

substances across the cell

membrane
Learning objectives
After revising this chapter, you should be able to

use the fluid mosaic model to explain the properties and functions of cell
membrane.

appreciate the uses and limitations of scientific models.

account for the movement of substances across membrane using the

concepts of diffusion, osmosis and active transport.

apply the concept of osmosis to explain plasmolysis and haemolysis.

My Notes

Quick revision notes

Chapter 4 - Movement of substances across the cell membrane 1

 4.1 The cell membrane
1. According to the fluid mosaic model ( 流動鑲嵌模型), the cell membrane
is made up of a bilayer of phospholipid molecules with protein
molecules interspersed among them. The cell membrane is described as:
◦ ‘fluid’– the phospholipid molecules and some protein molecules can
move laterally in the cell membrane.
◦ ‘mosaic’– protein molecules are interspersed among the phospholipid
molecules in a mosaic pattern.

The fluid mosaic model of the cell membrane

2. In a phospholipid molecule, the phosphate group is the hydrophilic ( 親

⽔的 ) head, which is attracted to water molecules. The two fatty
acids are the hydrophobic ( 疏⽔的 ) tails, which repel water molecules.

Chapter 4 - Movement of substances across the cell membrane 2

 Arrangement of phospholipid molecules in the cell membrane

3. Different components of the cell membrane have different functions:

4. The cell membrane has the following properties:

It is differentially permeable.

It is flexible.

It is strong enough to hold the cell contents.

Chapter 4 - Movement of substances across the cell membrane 3

 Different substances pass through the cell membrane by different
routes.

4.2  Movement of substances across the cell membrane

1. Diffusion ( 擴散
) is the net movement of particles from a region of
higher concentration to a region of lower concentration.

Diffusion

2. The rate of diffusion can be affected by the following factors:

concentration gradient – the greater the concentration difference,

the higher is the rate of diffusion.

temperature – the higher the temperature, the higher is the rate of

diffusion.

size and nature of particle –small, lipid-soluble

molecules diffuse more rapidly across the cell membrane.

Chapter 4 - Movement of substances across the cell membrane 4

 distance – the shorter the distance between two regions of different
concentration, the higher is the rate of diffusion.

surface area – the larger the surface area of the membrane through

which diffusion takes place, the higher is the rate of diffusion.

3. Diffusion is important for the exchange of substances between cells

and the environment. It is also responsible for the distribution of
substances throughout the cytoplasm.

4. Osmosis ( 滲透) is the net movement of water molecules from a

region of higher water potential ( ⽔勢
) to a region of lower water
potential across a differentially permeable membrane.

Osmosis

5. Water may enter or leave a cell by osmosis, depending on the difference

in water potential between the cell and that that of the surrounding liquid:

Chapter 4 - Movement of substances across the cell membrane 5

 6. Osmosis is important in plants for the absorption of water from soil and
the transport of water from cells to cells. When plant cells gain water by
osmosis, they become turgid. This provides support in young-seedlings
and non-woody plants.

7. Active transport ( 主動轉運) is the movement of substances across the

cell membrane. The process of active transport requires energy from
respiration.

8. Active transport is important for transporting substances across the cell

membrane against a concentration gradient ( 濃度梯度 ). It also allows
a cell to take in useful substances or remove wastes along a
concentration gradient more quickly than diffusion allows.

9. The process by which large solid particles can be taken in by cells is

called phagocytosis ( 吞噬
). It requires energy.

Chapter 4 - Movement of substances across the cell membrane 6

 Phagocytosis

10. Phagocytosis is important for:

body defense, e.g. phagocytes can engulf invading

microorganisms by phagocytosis.

feeding of some unicellular organisms, e.g. Amoeba

11. Phagocytosis is important for:

body defense, e.g. phagocytes can engulf invading

microorganisms by phagocytosis.

feeding of some unicellular organisms, e.g. Amoeba

Chapter 4 - Movement of substances across the cell membrane 7

 Multimedia resources
Video

Practical 4.1 Demonstration of Practical 4.2 Demonstration of

osmosis using dialysis tubing osmosis using living animal
tissue

https://youtu.be/To1RAgVaz9
s https://youtu.be/_HSfhhQIQ
WQ

Chapter 4 - Movement of substances across the cell membrane 8

 Practical 4.3 Study of osmosis Practical 4.4 Study of osmosis
in red blood cells in living plant cells

https://youtu.be/SW1vOXd4 https://youtu.be/dUVBff1g-V
GJg Q

Practical 4.5 Study of osmosis Practical 4.6 Design an

in living plant tissue investigation to determine the
water potential of potato tissue

https://youtu.be/dUVBff1g-V
Q https://youtu.be/0kC2pK04C
1g

Concept check
1. Phospholipid contains a hydrophobic head and a hydrophilic tail.The
statement is false.Phospholipid contains a hydrophilic head and a
hydrophobic tail.

True
False ✔
Clear your concept

2. The process of diffusion requires energy input form the cell.The statement is
false.Diffusion is a passive process. It relies on the kinetic energy of the
particles.

True

False ✔
Clear your concept

3. Osmosis is a type of diffusion.The statement is true.Osmosis is the diffusion

of water molecules across a differentially permeable membrane.

Chapter 4 - Movement of substances across the cell membrane 9

 True ✔
False

Clear your concept

4. When a cell is placed in an isotonic solution, there is no movement of water

molecules into or out of the cell.The statement is false.When a cell is placed
in an isotonic solution, the rate of water molecule entering and leaving the
cell are the same. There is no net movement of water molecules, however,
there is still movement of water molecules.

True

False ✔
Clear your concept

5. The rate of active transport is affected by temperature and availability of

oxygen.The statement is true.High temperatures may cause denaturation of
carrier proteins. Under anaerobic condition, mitochondria cannot produce
ATP for the use of active transport.

True ✔
False

Clear your concept

6. The bacteria engulfed by white blood cells will be digested to release energy
and therefore phagocytosis does not require energy.The statement is
false.The action of phagocytosis itself requires energy. The digested
materials may be taken up by the cells and used to release energy through
respiration.

True

False ✔
Clear your concept

Exam question distribution

Chapter 4 - Movement of substances across the cell membrane 10

 5** worked examples

Worked example 4.1 (Related sections: 4.2)

Protein X is a type of transport protein found on the membrane of red blood cells.
These proteins keep pumping sodium ions out of the cell so that the sodium
concentration in the cell is much lower than that of the surrounding plasma. Too
many sodium ions inside a cell will cause the bursting of cell.

In an experiment, red blood cells immersed in plasma were treated with cyanide,
which can inhibit the production of ATP. Few minutes later, the solution turned
red.

1. Suggest the process by which sodium ions are transported out of the red
blood cells. Explain your answer. (2 marks)

2. After the red blood cells were treated with cyanide, how would the
concentration of sodium ions inside the cells change? (1 mark)

Chapter 4 - Movement of substances across the cell membrane 11

 3. With reference to water potential, explain why the solution turned red after
being treated with cyanide. (4 marks)

Answer

Answer
1. Active transport (1)Sodium ions are transported out of the cell against the
concentration gradient. (1)The concentration of sodium ions inside the cells
increased. (1)Active transport carried out by protein X ceases as no ATP is
available. (1)Sodium ions accumulated in red blood cells and therefore the
water potential of the red blood cells decreased. (1)There was net gain of
water from the surrounding to the red blood cells by osmosis. (1)The red
blood cells swell and eventually burst, releasing haemoglobin. (1)

5 minutes to success
1. Four potato discs were weighed and each was placed into a salt solution of
different concentration for an hour. The final mass of the potato discs were
measured. The results are shown in the table below.In which solution would
most potato cells become plasmolysed?

Explanation

Chapter 4 - Movement of substances across the cell membrane 12

 A is the correct answer.The potato disc in solution P has the greatest
decrease in mass. It has the greatest loss of water, therefore it contains
the largest number of plasmolysed cells.

2. Which of the following is essential for diffusion?

a concentration gradient

a differentially permeable membrane

ATP

the presence of channel proteins

Explanation

A is the correct answer.

3. The graph shows the rate of diffusion of glucose into a cell as the glucose
concentration outside the cell changes.Why does the curve level off at X?

All carrier proteins are occupied by glucose molecules which have

become saturated.

The cell membrane becomes freely permeable to glucose.

There is not enough ATP for the transport process to proceed.

The glucose concentration inside the cell is same as the glucose

concentration outside the cell.

Explanation

Chapter 4 - Movement of substances across the cell membrane 13

 In cells, glucose is transported by carrier proteins. Each cell contains
limited amount of carrier protein. When all the carrier proteins are
occupied, the rate of glucose transport is limited.B is incorrect. Cell
membrane is differentially permeable.C is incorrect. Diffusion is a passive
process, which does not require energy.

4. A student carried out an experiment to study osmosis.Which of the following

graphs shows the change in the liquid level in the capillary tube?

Chapter 4 - Movement of substances across the cell membrane 14

 C

Explanation
C and D are incorrect. The water potential of sucrose solution is lower
than that of water. Water enters the dialysis tubing by osmosis.
Therefore, the height of liquid level will increase.B is correct. The water
potential difference between the sucrose solution and water is the
greatest at the beginning. The rate of water molecules entering the
dialysis tubing is the highest, therefore, the height of liquid level
increases at the fastest rate (with the steepest slope). As time pass,
water dilutes the glucose solution. The difference in water potential
decreases and therefore, the rate of increase in the height of liquid level
becomes slower and eventually level off.

5. Refer to the diagram of Question 4, which of the following can increase the
change in the liquid level in the capillary tube?

a. using 2% sucrose solution instead of 1% sucrose solution

b. using a capillary tube with narrower internal diameter

c. using water at 25 °C

(1) and (2) only

(1) and (3) only

(2) and (3) only

(1), (2) and (3)

Explanation

(1) is correct. Increasing the concentration of sucrose solution can

increase the water potential difference.(2) is correct. Note that: SA x h =
V, whereSA = cross-sectional area of the capillary tubeh = change in the
height of liquid levelV = the volume of waterCapillary tube with narrower
internal diameter has a smaller cross-sectional area. With the same
volume of water, the value of ‘h’ would become larger.(3) is incorrect. The
rate of osmosis decreases when the temperature decreases.

6. Which of the following components of the cell membrane is responsible for

preventing the free flow of ions into and out of a cell?

Chapter 4 - Movement of substances across the cell membrane 15

 I

II

III

IV

Explanation
IV is the hydrophobic tail of phospholipid. It repels polar molecules such
as ions, water and amino acids.

Chapter 4 - Movement of substances across the cell membrane 16