CHAPTER 3: MOVEMENT

OF SUBSTANCES
 LESSON OBJECTIVES

(a) define diffusion and discuss its importance in

nutrient uptake and gaseous exchange in plants and
humans.
(b) define osmosis and discuss the effects of osmosis
on plant and animal tissues.
(c) define active transport and discuss its importance as
an energy-consuming process by which substances
are transported against a concentration gradient, as
in ion uptake by root hairs and uptake of glucose by
cells in the villi.
METHODS OF TRANSPORT ACROSS
MEMBRANES
1. Diffusion
2. Osmosis
3. Active Transport
3.1 DIFFUSION

• substances will move from where it is more

concentrated to where it is less
concentrated, down its concentration
gradient.

• Diffusion is defined as the random

movement of particles down a
concentration gradient

• Energy is not required

 3.1 DIFFUSION

• Concentration
gradient
= The difference in
concentration
between two regions
• The steeper the
concentration for a
substance, the faster
the rate of diffusion
 3.1 DIFFUSION

• Each substance
diffuses down its own
concentration
gradient, independent
of the concentration
gradients of other
substances.
 THINKING QUESTIONS!

• What is (i) a natural and

(ii) an artificial example of
a partially permeable
membrane?

• Can diffusion occur across

a partially permeable
membrane?

• Can all particles move

across a partially
permeable membrane?
 RESEARCH QUESTIONS!

• Describe how diffusion occurs in animals.

a)movement of food substances across
the walls of small intestines into blood
b)movement of dissolved food
substances and oxygen from blood into
tissue fluid and into cells
c)movement of carbon dioxide from
blood into air spaces (in the lungs) and
vice versa for oxygen
 RESEARCH QUESTIONS!

• Describe how diffusion occurs in plants.

a)movement of carbon dioxide into the
leaf through the stomata during the day
and vice versa for oxygen at night
b)movement of water vapour out of the
leaf through the stomata during
transpiration
c)movement of mineral salts into the
root hair cells
 FACTORS THAT INCREASES RATE
OF DIFFUSION
Conditions which increase the rate of diffusion
(1) Steeper concentration gradient
(2) The shorter the distance over which diffusion occurs,
the faster the diffusion rate
(3) Greater surface area to volume ratio
(4) Larger number of pores and greater numbers of
pores (if partially permeable membrane is present)
(5) Smaller and lighter molecules
(6) The higher the temperature, the greater the speed of
motion of the particles
3.2 OSMOSIS
3.2 OSMOSIS

• Water molecules will move from where it is more

concentrated to where it is less concentrated,
down its water potential gradient.

• Osmosis is defined as
the NET movement of
water molecules down
a water potential gradient
across a partially
permeable membrane
3.2 OSMOSIS

• Water potential = a measure of the tendency of

water molecules to move from one place to
another
• direction of osmosis is determined only by a
difference in total solute concentration
 3.2 OSMOSIS – TYPES OF SOLUTIONS

• 3 types of solutions:
– solution with the higher concentration of solutes is
hypertonic.
– solution with the lower concentration of solutes is
hypotonic.
– Solutions with equal solute concentrations are isotonic
HOW DOES OSMOSIS AFFECTS CELLS?
HOW DOES OSMOSIS AFFECTS CELLS?
HOW DOES OSMOSIS AFFECTS CELLS?
HOW DOES OSMOSIS AFFECTS CELLS?
 HOW DOES OSMOSIS AFFECTS CELLS?

Cytoplasm is the substance between a cells membrane and its nucleus.

Cytosol is the fluid part of cytoplasm.
 IMPORTANCE OF TURGOR PRESSURE

• Helps to support the soft tissues of plants so

that they remain firm.
• Absence of turgor in cells results in plant cells
becoming flaccid (soft) → plant will wilt
• Causes the opening and closing of the stomata
• Causes the opening and closing of flowers
HOW DOES OSMOSIS
AFFECTS CELLS?
 ACTIVE TRANSPORT

• Substances move against their concentration

gradient, from the side where they are less
concentrated to where they are more
concentrated.

• Requires ENERGY
COMPARING DIFFUSION AND ACTIVE
TRANSPORT
 RESEARCH QUESTIONS!

• Describe where active transport occurs

in humans.
a)in small intestine during the uptake of
food substances
Small intestine, because energy is required in this process.

• Describe where active transport occurs

in plants.
a)in roots during the uptake of mineral
salts
To uptake the mineral ions into root cells. Because there is a higher concentration of
the mineral ions in the root hair cells than in the soil and therefore require energy.
 MOVEMENT OF SUBSTANCES INTO OR OUT OF
CELLS
Processes

Diffusion Osmosis
Similarities
• Energy not required
•Movement of substances down
a concentration gradient

Differences

•Refers to any substance, • Refers only to water molecules

gaseous or liquid •Takes place across a partially
• Membrane is not required permeable membrane
 MOVEMENT OF SUBSTANCES INTO OR OUT OF
CELLS
Processes

Diffusion Osmosis Active

Transport
Movement of Net movement of water
particles molecules across a Movement of
(molecules or partially permeable particles
ions) down a membrane, from a (molecules or
concentration solution of higher water ions) against a
gradient. potential to a solution of concentration
lower water potential. gradient.
Energy is
required.
THANK YOU