What is diffusion and why is it important in both animals and plants?

Diffusion is a passive process involving the movement of molecules from a region of a higher
concentration to one of a lower concentration (the term passive means that the process does not
require an input of energy to take place). Diffusion can occur across partialy permeable membranes,
such as those surrounding cells. Therefore, diffusion is involved in the movement of important
molecules into and out of cells. It is important for the uptake of substances needed by cells, and also the
removal of waste products produced by the cells.

In animals, oxygen and glucose react to form carbon dioxide and water along with ATP (a source of
energy) in the process of aerobic respiration. Therefore, oxygen and glucose must be taken up by the
cell, and typically the concentration of these molecules outside the cell is greater than inside. Therefore,
the overall net movement of these molecules will be down the concentration gradient, and they will
move into the cell via diffusion. Similarly, the carbon dioxide produced is a waste product and moves out
of the cell, again via diffusion down its concentration gradient.

In Plants, useful minerals and ions need to be taken up from soil via root hair cells. These cells are
adapted (through a large surface area and large number) to maximise the rate of diffusion. Therefore,
the useful molecules in the soil move down a concentration gradient and into the roots to be taken up
by the plant. Many molecules found in the soil are essential for the growth and survival of plants,
making diffusion a very important process.

Several factors affect the rate of diffusion of a solute including the mass of the solute, the
temperature of the environment, the solvent density, and the distance traveled

Mass of the molecules diffusing: Heavier molecules move more slowly; therefore, they diffuse more
slowly. The reverse is true for lighter molecules.

Temperature: Higher temperatures increase the energy and therefore the movement of the molecules,
increasing the rate of diffusion. Lower temperatures decrease the energy of the molecules, thus
decreasing the rate of diffusion.

Solvent density: As the density of a solvent increases, the rate of diffusion decreases. The molecules
slow down because they have a more difficult time getting through the denser medium. If the medium is
less dense, diffusion increases. Because cells primarily use diffusion to move materials within the
cytoplasm, any increase in the cytoplasm’s density will inhibit the movement of the materials.

Distance travelled: The greater the distance that a substance must travel, the slower the rate of
diffusion. This places an upper limitation on cell size. A large, spherical cell will die because nutrients or
waste cannot reach or leave the center of the cell. Therefore, cells must either be small in size, as in the
case of many prokaryotes, or be flattened, as with many single-celled eukaryotes.