| CHAPTER 2.) « Diffusion, Osmosis and Surface Area: Volume Ratio Revision of Main Concepts and Facts 2.4. Diffusion, osmosis and water potential + Diffusion is the net movement of fons or molecules of a substance from a region where they are in higher concentration to a region where they are in lower concentration. ‘The difference in the concentrations of the substance between the two regions is known as the concentration or diffusion gradient. The steeper the diffusion gradient of a substance, the faster will be the rate of diffusion for the substance Direction of movement of molecules regjon of high region of ow concentration concentration of molecules ‘of molecules Fig. 2:1a Pictorial representation of diffusion Fig. 2.1b Graphical representation of diffusion molecules afuse Gown bis gradient ca Concentration A permeable membrane allows all molecules (solute or solvent) to pass through it. A partially petmeable membrane only allows certain molecules to pass through it but not others. ‘Osmosis is the passage of water molecules across a partially permeable membrane from a dilute (higher water potential) to a concentrated (lower water potential) solution. It is a paca case of diffusion in which water molecules move from a region where they ar high concentration (ie. a dilute solution) to one where they are in low concentration (i concentrated solution) (Fig. 2.2) Diffusion of sucr fusion of sucrose molecules occurs when a permeable membrane separates dilute and concentrated sucrose solutions (Fig. 23) : lutions (Fig. 2.3), whereas only osmosis occurs when a partially permeable membrane is used (Fig. 2.4), : : ‘water molecules Bilge down tis SQ sredent ‘igh water” low water Pena urn (Gio (Corcertrates ter) Satan). Fig. 22 Gra '@ 2.2 Graphical representation of osmosis dlpermeable membrane (allows both sucrose and water molecules to pass through it) ‘igh concentration ‘of sucrose molecules high concentration of water molecules A dilute sucrose. solution ‘concentrated ‘sucrose solution ‘sucrose solutions o the ‘same concentration + net movement of ue086 molecules + net mavemant of water molecules Fig 2.3 Diffusion: permeable membrane separates dilute and concentrated sucrose solutions ° OB aa a ae oe, 3 nie i tevel (solution 10% sucrose 5% ‘soltton Solution rial permeable molecules panemorene + net movement of water molecules Fig 2.4 Osmosis: partially permeable membrane separates dilute and concentrated sucrose solutions + Hypotonic: solution (high water potential) is hypotonic with respect to solution B (low water potential) Hypertonic: solution B (low water potential) is hypertonic with respect to solution (high water potential), «= Jsotonic: solutions 4 and B (Fig. 2.4b) that have the same water potential are said to be isotonic. 2.2 Osmosis in living cells > The cell surface membrane of a cell is partially permeable. In a plant cell, the membrane lining the central vacuole is also partially permeable. The cell wall of a plant cell is non- living, tough, slightly elastic and permeable. The cell sap in the large central vacuole of a plant cell is highly concentrated as it contains a complex mixture of substances Nore: In living systems, the terms hypotonic and hypertonic apply to only animal systems.> When an animal cel is placed in animal cal > When a plant cell is placed in Fig. 2.5 Osmosis in animal cells a hypotonic solution, there is a net flow of water into the cell from the surroundings. The cell swells and eventually ruptures. a hypertonic solution, there is a net flow of water out of the cell into the surroundings. The cell shrinks. a solution that is isotonic with respect to the cel, there is no net movement of water in or out of the cell. The cell remains unaffected. Fig. 2.6 Osmosis in plant celis. a solution of high water potential, water flows into the vacuole of the cell causing the cell to swell. The cell wall prevents the cell from bursting and exerts an opposing pressure that prevents net water flow into the cell. The cell in this state becomes rigid or turgid. (Turgor helps to support the soft tissues in plants) a solution of low water potential, water flows out of the cell causing the cell and its vacuole to become smaller (flaccid), thus pulling the cytoplasm away from the cell wall. The cell in this state is said to be plasmolysed. (Plasmolysed cells can be restored by placing them in water) solution of the same water Potential, the cell remains unaffected, water enters cell expands and ruptures cell shrinks (crenation) coll is unaffected water enters cell becomes turgid water leaves HEN = cel becomes tcc and ‘vertu plasmayece Cc) collis unattected2.3 Active transport > Active transport is the proct which energy is used to move the particles of a substance against a concentration gradient from a region where they are in lower concentration to a region where they are in higher concentration. Cells carrying out active transport contain ‘numerous mitochondria and have a high cellular respiratory t t rate to provide the energy Nore ration oe ration eee ‘motels, ‘rows, eo. usose Sig glucose > Fig. 2.7 Graphical representation of active transport 2.4 Transport across the cell surface membrane > Materials move in and out of cells across their cell surface membranes by the following. methods «Diffusion, eg. the uptake of oxygen and the excretion of carbon dioxide by all living cells during respiration. + Osmosis, eg, the uptake of water molecules from the soil by root hair cells and the flow ‘of water from here to the xylem vessels of the root + Active transport, eg, the uptake of (i mineral salts (ions) by root hair cells, (i) glucose and amino acids by epithelial cells in the vill ofthe small intestine. a 2.5 Surface area to volume ratio > It is very important that the rates of movement of substances (eg: O,, CO, and nutrients) crows the cell membranes must be sufficiently high enough to meet the metabolic needs of the cells. This is very much dependent on the ratio of the surface area of the cells to its volume, > Basically, the greater the area of surface membrane of a cel to its volume, the faster will be the rate at which the substances diftse or be absorbed at a given concentration gradient +A smal cell has a larger surface area to volume ratio than a large cell of the same shape “Thus, a large organism is made up of many small cells i. itis malticeular + Having mulifold ofcell surface membrane can inerense surface area to volume ratio of a ea This modification is of particular importance in cells that are concerned with absorption SF substances. This includes the microvilli of cells lining the small intestine.) Gs Exercise 2 1 Fil in the blanks with appropriate words. (a) b) © @) Diffusion is the —_—________—— of molecules of a from regions of to concentrations along a Diffusion eventually leads to the concentration of identical molecules throughout the —__ Osmosis is the of. across a membrane from a ___ toa ___________ solution. The solution has a __ water than the concentrated solution. Thus, in osmosis, water molecules move down a water or osmotie The — eee eee eres igiall celia permeable. The cell___of plant cells is to all substance. ‘The cells in the bodies of multicellular animals are ______ in intercellular ——_______ which is with respect to the contents of the cells. this ______ig more concentrated than the contents of the cells, water of the cells. This causes the cells to ———————— Ifit is more dilute than the contents of the cells, water eee eeeeseeeeeere the cells. This causes the cells to and if the process continues, the cells will eventually eeszumerned in wate, water wf is tobd G16 ewer ere eal will then expand and press ——_—_———— on the and ______. After some time, the entry of water is by the unstretchable ‘The plant cell is said to be ‘The pressure exerted by the water on the ———— is the ___— pressure. (®) ‘Durgidity is important in land plants. It makes plants firm and gives —______—— especially to herbaceous plants. f plant cells lose a lot of water and become the plant will ‘The plant will easily if supptied with ——__—— However, ________ is not supplied, the plant will die when all its cells become (g)_ A large cell has a smaller —____! than a small cell. ‘As a reslt, diffusion and __________— occur more _______— ina range cel than a small one. Cells concerned with absorption of re modified to — ihe ese ee (a) Name the process by which plant cells get (mineral salts, oes unPateg anae an i) water, cee eee race (iii) carbon dioxide sco agsee eens (6) Which of the processes in (a) (occurs across a partially permeable membrane? yer a oe (i) is applicable to movement of solute? requires cellular respiration?