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Active and Passive Transport - Its Difference

Active and Passive Transport

“Active transport is the movement of molecules across a membrane from a region

of lower concentration to a region of higher concentration against the concentration
gradient, often assisted by enzymes and requires energy”
“Passive transport is the movement of ions and molecules across the cell
membrane without requiring energy.”

Active and passive transport are the two main biological processes that play a crucial role in supplying nutrients,
oxygen, water and other essential molecules to the cells along with the elimination of waste products. In
essence, active and passive transport work for the same goals/ purposes, but with different movement.

Let us see how active and passive transport are different from each other.

Difference Between Active And Passive Transport

Following are the important difference between active and passive transport:

Active Transport Passive Transport

Requires cellular energy. Does not require cellular energy.

It circulates from a region of lower concentration It circulates from a region of higher

to a region of higher concentration concentration to a region of lower concentration

Required for the transportation of all the Required for the transportation of all soluble
molecules such as proteins, large cells, complex molecules, including oxygen, water, carbon
sugars, ions, etc. dioxide, lipids, sex hormones, etc.

It is involved in the maintenance of the

It transports various molecules in the cell.
equilibrium level inside the cell.

Active transport is a dynamic process. Passive Transport is a physical process.

It is highly selective. It is partly non-selective

Passive transport is a comparatively slow

Active transport is a rapid process.
process.

Transpires in one direction. Transpires bidirectionally.

Active transportation is influenced by Passive transportation is not influenced by

temperature. temperature.

In passive transport, carrier proteins are not

In active transport, carrier proteins are required
required

This process reduces or halts as the oxygen This process is not affected by the level of
content level is reduced. oxygen content.

Metabolic inhibitors can influence and stop Passive transportation is not influenced by
active transport. metabolic inhibitors.

Different types of Active Transport are –

Different types of Passive Transport are –

Exocytosis, endocytosis,  sodium-potassium
Osmosis, diffusion, and facilitated diffusion
pump

Active Transport
This is the biological process in which molecules move against the concentration gradient and require chemical
energy to move biochemical compounds from a lower region to the high region. Therefore, this process uses
ATP – Adenosine triphosphate to pump molecules through a concentration gradient. Complex sugar, ions, large CBSE Sample Papers
cells, proteins and other particles are transported in this process. There are two types of Active transport:
CBSE Sample Papers Class 8 Science
1. Primary Active transport
CBSE Sample Papers Class 9 Science
2. Secondary Active transport

Exocytosis, endocytosis and sodium-potassium pump are a few examples of active transport. The process of CBSE Sample Papers Class 10 Science
endocytosis and exocytosis are utilized by all the cells for transportation of molecules which cannot passively CBSE Sample Papers Class 11 Physics
permeate via the membrane.
CBSE Sample Papers Class 11 Chemistry
Endocytosis is the process of active transportation of molecules into the cells by the action of engulfing it
along with its membrane. CBSE Sample Papers Class 11 Biology

Exocytosis produces a counter function thereby forcing molecules out of the cell. The process of CBSE Sample Papers Class 12 Physics
homeostasis facilitates an equal flow of molecules in and out of a cell which confers that the number of
CBSE Sample Papers Class 12 Chemistry
molecules that enter the cell through endocytosis equates to the number of molecules that exits a cell
through the process of exocytosis. Both the processes assure that nutrients and wastes are balanced for CBSE Sample Papers Class 12 Biology
the smooth functioning of the cells.

Main Article: Active Transport.

Passive Transport
CBSE Previous Year Question Papers
In this biological process, energy is not required for transporting the molecules, as the biochemicals move from a
region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration. All particles which are easily soluble are CBSE Previous Year Question Papers Class 10
transported through passive transport. This process is carried out to maintain the balance and the equilibrium Science
level in a cell. All the waste molecules including, water and carbon dioxide is separated and moved out of the CBSE Previous Year Question Papers Class 12
cell using passive transport. Meanwhile, nutrients like oxygen that are functional for the cell are diffused in this Physics
process. Osmosis, diffusion and facilitated diffusion are some of the examples of passive transport.
CBSE Previous Year Question Papers Class 12
Main Article: Passive Transport Chemistry

CBSE Previous Year Question Papers Class 12

Key Points on Active and Passive Transport
Biology
Active transport requires energy for the movement of molecules whereas passive transport does not
require energy for the movement of molecules.
In active transport, the molecules move against the concentration gradient whereas in passive transport,
the molecules move along the concentration gradient.
Uptake of glucose in the human intestine works on the principle of active transport. ICSE Sample Papers
Simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, osmosis and filtration are examples of passive transport. ICSE Sample Papers Class 8 Physics
Know more about active and passive transport and the difference between the two only at BYJU’S Biology
ICSE Sample Papers Class 8 Chemistry
Related Links:
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Diffusion
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Transportation In Plants
Facilitated Diffusion ICSE Sample Papers Class 9 Chemistry

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ICSE Sample Papers Class 10 Physics

ICSE Sample Papers Class 10 Chemistry

ICSE Sample Papers Class 10 Biology

ISC Sample Papers Class 11 Physics

ISC Sample Papers Class 11 Chemistry

ISC Sample Papers Class 11 Biology

ISC Sample Papers Class 12 Physics

ISC Sample Papers Class 12 Chemistry

ISC Sample Papers Class 12 Biology

ICSE Previous Year Question Papers

ICSE Previous Year Question Papers Class 10
5,178 Physics

ICSE Previous Year Question Papers Class 10

Frequently Asked Questions Chemistry

How is active transport different from passive transport? ICSE Previous Year Question Papers Class 10
Maths
Active transport moves molecules and ions from lower concentration to higher concentration with the help of
energy in the form of ATP. On the other hand, passive transport moves molecules and ions from a higher
concentration to lower concentration without any energy.

What is the role of ATP in active transport?

ISC Previous Year Question Papers
ATP hydrolysis provides energy for the movement of molecules and ions across a concentration gradient. The class 12
movement of molecules occurs either inside the cells (endocytosis) or out of the cells (exocytosis).
ISC Previous Year Question Papers Class 12
Physics
Mention two examples of active and passive transport.
ISC Previous Year Question Papers Class 12
Examples of active transport include sodium-potassium pump, uptake of mineral ions by the roots of the plants,
Chemistry
etc. Whereas, the examples of passive transport include the exchange of gases in the alveoli of the lungs and
the exchange of nutrients in the kidneys. ISC Previous Year Question Papers Class 12
Biology
What is the importance of active and passive transport?
Active and passive transport regulate the entry and exit of ions and molecules in a cell. These processes allow
only specific materials to cross spontaneously through the cell membrane. Rest need a carrier to pass through
the membrane.

What are the different types of passive transport?

Passive transport can be of the following different types:

Simple diffusion
Osmosis
Facilitated diffusion

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2 Comments

Amos
FEBRUARY 6, 2021 AT 8:05 PM

Thank you so much

REPLY

Mat
FEBRUARY 25, 2021 AT 3:41 PM

Thank you so much! The explanations are clear and concise. It saved me time and mental energies to
understand.

REPLY

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