Topic 4

Movement of Substances

Diffusion
Osmosis
Active transport
 Syllabus
• define diffusion as the movement of molecules from a region
of their higher concentration to a region of their lower
concentration, down a concentration gradient
• discuss the importance of diffusion for living organisms
• define osmosis as the passage of water molecules from a
region of their higher water potential to a region of their
lower water potential, through a partially permeable
membrane
• define active transport as the movement of ions (substances)
from a region of their lower concentration to a region of their
higher concentration against a concentration gradient
 Topic 4
Movement of Substances
Questions – Set 1
1. Define the following terms,
a) Diffusion
b) Osmosis
c) Active transport
d) Concentration gradient
e) Partially permeable membrane
f) Turgid
g) Solute
 Class test Monday
Study the definitions of:
• Diffusion
• Osmosis
• Active transport
• To carry out life processes, cells need to take
in and get rid of substances.

Animal cell Plant cell

• The cell membrane is the boundary between
the inside of the cell and the outer
environment.

Animal cell Plant cell

Movement of Substances
in and out of cells:

• Diffusion
• Osmosis
• Active transport
 Syllabus
• define diffusion as the movement of
molecules from a region of their higher
concentration to a region of their lower
concentration, down a concentration gradient
 Class test
Define:

• Diffusion
• Osmosis
• Active transport
 Diffusion
DEF: The movement of particles from a region
of their higher concentration to a region of
their lower concentration, down a
concentration gradient.

High to Low
Example of Diffusion
Ammonia experiment
 Example of Diffusion

Add potassium permanganate to water

 partially permeable membrane

Examples: Cell membrane

Visking tubing/Dialisis tubing
 Diffusion
Molecules are in constant motion and tend to
move from regions where they are in higher
concentration to regions where they are less
concentrated. Diffusion is the net movement
of molecules down their concentration
gradient. Diffusion can occur in gases and in
liquids. An example of diffusion in gases
occurs when a bottle of perfume is opened at
the front of a room. Within minutes people
further and further from the source can smell
the perfume.
 Syllabus
• discuss the importance of diffusion for living
organisms
Alveolus and gaseous
exchange
Gaseous
exchange
in plants:

Take place
in the leaf
Gaseous exchange in a leaf
 Homework set 1 - Questions
1. Describe how oxygen diffuses into the
human body. Start in the lungs and end in
the blood stream.

2. Describe how carbon dioxide diffuses into

the plant leaf. Starting in the atmosphere
and end in the palisade cell.
1. Oxygen is breathed in through the mouth
into the lungs. In the lungs the oxygen will
diffuse from the alveoli where it is in a high
concentration into the blood stream where it
is in a low concentration.

2. Carbon dioxide is in a high concentration in

the atmosphere and will diffuse through the
stomata into the air space where there is a
low concentration. Then it will diffuse from
the air space where it is in a high
concentration into the palisade cells where it
is in a low concentration.
 Syllabus
• define osmosis as the passage of water
molecules from a region of their higher water
potential to a region of their lower water
potential, through a partially permeable
membrane
 Definition of osmosis
• The passage of water molecules from a
region of their higher water potential to a
region of their lower water potential,
through a partially permeable membrane
 Osmosis

• Osmosis is a specialized case of diffusion that

involves the passive transport of water. In
osmosis water moves through a selectively
permeable membrane from a region of its
higher water potential to a region of its lower
water potential. The membrane selectively
allows passage of certain types of molecules
while restricting the movement of others.

High to Low
Sugar can
not move to
water area
because Water will
molecules move into
are to big to sugar
pass solution
through the area
membrane
Visking tubing - Osmosis
Osmosis - Amoeba
Up take of
water in
plants.
Example of osmosis
How water moves from soil into root hair cell

Water will move from a high water potential

in the soil into the root hair cell where it is in a
low water potential through the cell surface
membrane (partially permeable membrane).
Plant cell in:
High water potential  water move into cell 
cell becomes turgid.
So plant does not wilt.
 Example of Osmosis

Absorption of water from intestines into

the blood stream.
 Homework – Set 2:
• Solid Foundation:
Revision Activity (P. 60 – 61)
Q. 1, 2 and 3

• Platinum:
Self-assessment (P.68)
Q. 1, 2, 3 and 4
 Solid - Question 1 - Answers
a) Active transport: The active movement of
particles against a concentration gradient across
a membrane, with the use of energy.

b) Osmosis: The passive movement of water

molecules down a potential gradient, from an
area of a high water potential to an area of a low
water potential, through a selectively permeable
membrane.

c) Partially permeably: Refers to a barrier (or cell

membrane) that allows only some substances to
pass through but others not.
 Solid - Question 2 - Answer

a) Osmosis
b) Diffusion
c) Diffusion
 Solid - Question 3 - Answer

a)Osmosis occurred in the potato strip. The salt

solution has a lower water potential than the
potato strips. So, the water moves out of the
potato strips into the salt solution.

b)Five strips of potato were used so that Nelao

could obtain an average measurement. Doing this
will improve the reliability of her experiment.
• Osmosis & Diffusion is passive transport,
requires no energy – Down concentration
gradient
• Active transport is active movement, requires
energy – Up/against the concentration
gradient
Active Transport
 Syllabus
• define active transport as the movement of
ions (substances) from a region of their lower
concentration to a region of their higher
concentration against a concentration
gradient
 Definition of Active transport
• The movement of ions (substances) from a
region of their lower concentration to a
region of their higher concentration against a
concentration gradient

Low to High
 Active transport of Mineral salts
• Examples: Magnesium, Nitrogen, Potasium

Active
transport

Active
transport
Active transport of Mineral salts
Humans taking in glucose through
their intestines.
 Homework – Set 3
Solid foundation:
Revision Activity P61
Q. 4 d) – draw the graph

Platinum:
Topic test P70
Q. 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10
Solid – Q 4 d) - Answer
 Class Test - Revision Examples

Which process takes place: Osmosis, Diffusion or

Active transport?
1. Plants absorb carbon dioxide.
2. Inhaled oxygen in lungs enter the blood
stream.
3. Plant roots absorb mineral salts.
4. Plant roots absorb water.
5. Plants release oxygen.
the end…….