MUNRO COLLEGE

HUMAN AND SOCIAL BIOLOGY

DIFFUSION, OSMOSIS AND ACTIVE TRANSPORT

CELL SURFACE MEMBRANES:

One of the functions of the cell membrane is to separate the cell’s internal environment from its external
environment.

Membranes also acts as a barrier to the movement of certain substances in and out of the cell.

Membranes are also used for keeping things inside the cell, such as proteins, sugars, and fats that it has made
for itself.

Membranes also allows substances to move into the cell from the surroundings, and allows some substances to
move out of the cell. Substances that are removed from the cell are the toxins (harmful), which are produced by
the activities of the cell.

Any ion or molecules that a cell needs to use, or needs to get rid of, must be able to go through the cell
membrane.

The cell membranes are selectively permeable and allows certain substances to pass through. The selectively
permeable membrane allows the cells to

Obtain nutrients
Excrete waste materials
Secrete useful substances such as hormones which are made by cells
Maintain optimum concentration of ions
Maintain a pH suitable for the action of enzymes

Movement across membranes occurs by one of three methods, diffusion, osmosis, or active transport.

DIFFUSION is the movement of molecules or ions from a region of high concentration to a region of low
concentration. Diffusion depends on the differences in the concentration of molecules, or ions in two places.
Molecules or ions, diffuse from a place with a high concentration to a place with a lower concentration. Ions or
molecules moves down a concentration gradient.
FIGURE 1: Showing the diffusion of two different molecules simultaneously.

Figure 2: Showing equilibrium being reached

Figure 3: Showing diffusion of ink in a glass of water

Diffusion across cell membranes depends on:

A concentration gradient- the steeper the gradient the faster will be the diffusion rate.
The ability of many molecules and ions to pass through cell membranes. Generally, the smaller the
molecule, or ion, the faster it will move through the membrane. The more lipid soluble the particle is,
the faster it will move through the membrane. This is because lipid is the main component of
membranes.

Diffusion is very important in the body. As far as cells are concerned, diffusion is a passive movement as we do
not need energy from ATP to move the molecules across cell surface membranes. The kinetic energy of the
molecules and ions is responsible for their movement. We only have to make sure that there is a concentration
gradient across the membrane. Diffusion in the human body occur when

The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place in the lungs
The absorption of digested food in the small intestines moves into the blood
The movement of oxygen and dissolved nutrient molecules from the blood into cells
The movement of carbon dioxide and waste out of cells into blood
The movement of a chemical across a synapse(gap) between nerve cells in the nervous system.

Cell membranes allow diffusion of glucose molecules, water, ions, oxygen and carbon dioxide through them.
Cell membranes are permeable to these substances.

An equilibrium is reached when there is an equal distribution of the molecules.

A dynamic equilibrium is achieved when the molecules are still moving but there is no net movement.

Net movement means no overall movement, eg. If ten molecules move from left to right and eight move from
right to left, the net movement is two from left to right, but if ten move from right to left and ten move from left
to right then there is no net movement.

Figure 4: Showing dynamic equilibrium

OSMOSIS is the movement of water molecules from a region of high concentration (of water) to a lower
concentration of water, through a partially permeable membrane.

Osmosis continues to happen until the two concentrations become equal and there is a dynamic equilibrium.

Osmosis is a special case of diffusion. It involves

Solutions in which water is the solvent (the chemicals dissolved in it is called the solute).
Diffusion of water molecules from a region where there are lots of them (eg. Dilute solutions) to a
region where there are fewer of them (eg a concentrated solution)
A partially permeable membrane – one that will allow free movement of water molecules, but NOT of
the solute molecules.

Figure 5: Showing the movement of water by osmosis

IMPORTANCE OF OSMOSIS TO LIVING CELLS:

OSMOSIS IN ANIMAL CELLS:

Animal cells are surrounded by a selectively partially permeable membrane.

Red blood cells are suspended in the liquid part of blood called plasma. The concentration of plasma
remains relatively constant all the time so that blood cells do not change in size.

If the blood plasma becomes more concentrated than that of the red blood cells, then water will flow out of
the red blood cells into the plasma. This will cause the red blood cells to shrink and tear. Cells in this state
becomes crenated.

If blood plasma becomes more dilute than the red blood cells, then water will move from the plasma into the
red blood cells. This will cause the red blood cells to burst. Cells in this state becomes lysis.
 Figure 6. Showing red blood cells in three different plasma concentration

In our bodies we have mechanisms that keep our blood plasma at a constant concentration, so these changes
in the red blood cells do not occur.

OSMOSIS IN PLANTS:

Plant cells have a cell wall in addition to a cell membrane. The cell wall is fully permeable and will allow
most substances to pass through.

When water flows into a plant cell by osmosis, the cytoplasm swells and pushes against the cell wall, which
withstands the pressure and resists the flow of more water into the cell. Eventually there will be no flow of
water into the cell and the cell is referred to as turgid. This is when dynamic equilibrium is reached.

The inward flow of water, and the pressure that builds up in the cells is extremely useful for plants. It gives
‘stiffness’ to their leaves, flowers and stems so that they are kept rigid and can support themselves.

When a plant cell is placed in a concentrated solution there will be a net flow of water out by osmosis. The
vacuole shrinks and the cytoplasm pulls away from the cell wall, a movement that is called plasmolysis.

In a plasmolysed cell the tissue is no longer turgid, but instead it is described as flaccid. This is what
happens to plants that wilt on hot days. The advantage of wilting is that the leaves are taken out of the direct
rays of the sun, so they are protected against damage by high light/heat intensities.
 Figure 7: Showing the three states of a plant cell.

Figure 8: Showing a plant which is turgid and plasmolysed.

Roots have specialised cells, known as root hairs, which increases the surface area available for water
uptake in plants.

Figure 9 Showing root hairs on a radicle

 Water moves from the soil into the root hair cell by osmosis. Water moves from the root hair cell across the
cells of the root to the hollow xylem vessels in the centre. Once the water is in the xylem it is transported to
the rest of the plant.

Figure 10: Showing the flow of water from the soil to the xylem of the plant.

ACTIVE TRANSPORT is the movement of molecules of ions from a region of lower concentration to a region
of higher concentration, with the use of energy from respiration.

Sometimes cells require substances from their surroundings that are at a lower concentration outside than in
their cytoplasm. This means that they are going to have to use some of their energy to move them against their
concentration gradient. The cells will have to the use their energy in the form of ATP to move the substances
into their cells.

Cells also need to move substances out of the cell against concentration gradients and they have to use active
transport to get rid of these substances.

Click on the hyperlink below and open to view the video.

https://youtu.be/WgmJ8NKLgAg
Figure 11: Showing passive and active transport.
 Organism Cells Substance moved by Reason
active transport (and
direction)
Plant Root hair cells Nitrate ions and Nitrate ions are used for
magnesium ions (into the making amino acids.
cells) Magnesium ions are used
for making chlorophyll
Guard cells Potassium ions (into the To help absorb water by
cells) osmosis.
To open the stomata for
diffusion of gases into
and out of the leaves.
Animal Red blood cells Sodium ions (out of the To prevent them
cells) absorbing too much
water and expanding
Nerve Cells Potassium ions (into the To help in the
cells) transmission of impulses
Epithelial cells from the Glucose (into the cells) Absorb glucose from the
small intestines digested food into the
blood to provide energy.
Table 1: Showing some activities that requires energy

CONCENTRATION GRADIENT is the regularly changing amount of one substance dispersed in another
unevenly across a tissue or membrane.
 Figure 12: Diagram representation of concentration gradient

https://youtu.be/HLdNTvY2UkM

The above link shows the factors that affects the rate of diffusion.