Diffusion

The net movement of particles from a region of their higher concentration to a, region of their lower
concentration down a concentration gradient.
Energy for diffusion is a result of kinetic energy of random movement of molecules and ions.

Importance of diffusion of gases and solutes:

1. Gas exchange: O2 in and CO2 out through the cell membrane, in respiration in animal and plants.
2. CO2 diffuse from air into leaves and oxygen out of leaf to air.
3. Absorption of glucose and amino acids from ileum.
4. Diffusion of scent in plants attracts pollinators like bees.

Factors that cause faster diffusion rate:

 Thin membrane, smaller distance travelled by molecules.
 Bigger surface area of the membrane.
 High temperature which increase kinetic energy of molecules.
 Steeper concentration gradient.
 Smaller size of molecule.

1 Movement of particles across membranes

Diffusion in gases Observation
Moisten litmus paper with water to stick to tube and to dissolves ammonia to produce its action. Alkaline ammonia gas
Push them by glass rod into glass tube. travel down the tube by
Close ends to avoid air current which affect rate of diffusion and avoid escape of ammonia. diffusion and change Red
Cotton pad moistened with ammonia solution. litmus paper blue
Keep tube horizontal and don’t hold tube by hands as temperature increase rate of diffusion.

Diffusion in agar gelly

Agar jelly (transparent) + Alkali + Phenolphthalein indicator make pink cubes
Place cube into a Petri dish with HCL
It goes colorless as particles of the acid diffuse into it.
We can investigate effect of the following on diffusion by agar cubes:
• Surface area by changing size of the cube.
• Temperature on by changing temperature of HCL solution.
• Concentration by changing concentration of HCL

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 Diffusion in solution Observation
Fill glass gar with water . Potassium permanganate diffuse from high
Leave it for several hours so water become very still. concentration in crystal to low concentration
Put a crystal of potassium permenganate. in water and colour of water will gradually
change to pink.

Diffusion through visking (dialysis) membrane Observation

It is partially permeable membrane alllow passage water and iodine ,but not starch. Starch inside turned blue black
Prepare visking tubing. Iodine solution outside remain brown.
Fill it with 1% starch solution with pipette. Why?
• Rinse with water to remove any starch outside . Small iodine molecules diffuse to the starch
• Put tubing into a beaker filled iodine solution (yellow). inside the tubing giving blue black colour.
Starch molecules are large can’t diffuse out
the visking tubing

3 Movement of particles across membranes

 Active transport

The movement of particles through the cell membrane from a region of their lower concentration to
a region of their higher concentration against concentration gradient, using energy from respiration.

Active transport need:

1. Transport protein in cell membrane that changes shape to push ions into the cytoplasm.
2. Energy to change shape of transport protein.
• Lack of O2 and glucose prevent active transport as it need energy.
• Cells carrying active transport have many mitochondria to produce energy (ATP).

Carrier proteins move ions across cell membrane:

• Carrier protein uses, energy , ATP (from respiration) and interact with ions
• Change shape of protein
• Ions move through the protein against concentration gradient

Importance of active transport:

 Uptake of nitrate ion by root hair cells from soil.
 Uptake of glucose by epithelial cells of villi of intestine and kidney tubule into blood.

Diffusion Active transport

No energy is needed , passive process Energy is needed , active process

Down a Concentration gradient Against a concentration gradient

Does not require carrier protein. Need carrier protein in cell membrane.

Living membrane is not essential Living membrane is essential

4 Movement of particles across membranes

 Osmosis

The net movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential (dilute solution) to a
region of lower water potential, (concentrated) down water potential gradient through a partially
permeable membrane.

Importance : water moves in and out of cells by osmosis through the cell membrane.

Types of solutions:
 Dilute solution has lot of water, high water potential, distilled water has highest potential.
 Concentrated solution has less water, low water potential.

Sugar: large can’t diffuse through membrane.

Water molecules are small and diffuse from left to right side by osmosis.

Osmosis in plant cells:

1. In pure water: hypotonic solution, high water potential. (more water, less solute)
Water moves from soil into the vacuole through cell membrane by osmosis, vacuole expands and
presses outward into cytoplasm against inelastic cell wall which resists pressure. (turgor pressure)
and cell becomes firm, turgid, and this supports plant to be upright with firm leaves.
N.B Plant cells do not burst as it is surrounded by cell wall.

2. In concentrated solution: hypertonic, low water potential. (less water, more solute)
 Plant cell will have higher water potential and water leaves cells by osmosis, vacuole shrinks.
 Cells become flaccid and plant begin to wilt with bend leaves.
e.g. if we irrigate plant with sea water.

3. In very concentrated solution

 Lot of water diffuse out of the cell by osmosis.
 Cytoplasm and vacuole shrink towards the centre of the cell, cell wall can’t shrink.
 Cell membrane pull away from cell wall, plasmolysis, this kills the plant cell.

5 Movement of particles across membranes

Osmosis in animal cells e.g. RBCs
1. In isotonic solution no change.
2. In Pure water: water diffuses into concentrated cytoplasm and cell swells up and membrane
stretches and cell may burst.
3. In concentrated solution: Water diffuses out and cytoplasm shrinks and cell shrivels up.

How diffusion differ from osmosis?

Water molecules move in osmosis, molecules or ions in diffusion.
A partially permeable membrane is needed for osmosis not necessary for diffusion.

To demonstrate osmosis:
 Prepare dialysis visking tubing.
 Use dropper pipette to put concentrated sugar solution into tubing.
 Tubing is fitted over a capillary tube and lowered into a beaker of water or weak sugar solution.
 Every 2 minutes record level of fluid in tube .In few minute level will rise in the capillary tube

Water molecules passed from the beaker ( high water potential) to the inside by osmosis raising
the level of liquid in the capillary tube.

6 Movement of particles across membranes

Experiment showing osmosis in potatoes strips:
 Place a potato chip into a beaker of pure water, and another in a sugar solution
 Measure the length of potato chip in both beakers and leave it
 After a while, measure the length again; potato in water should increase in size, and the one in
the sugar solution should shrink

Importance of osmosis to plant:

 Uptake of water by root hair cells with concentrated cell sap (low water potential).
 Mass flow of ions as magnesium.
 Provide water enzymes to work and for photosynthesis.
 Control stomal opening and prevents wilting.

7 Movement of particles across membranes