HSB (4)

Movement in cells

Osmosis
- movement of water molecules
- a semi-permeable membrane
- molecules move from an area where there are many water molecules to an area where
there are fewer water molecules OR an area of low concentration (dilute area/filled
with water) to an area of high concentration (concentrated with particles) OR an area
of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration
- an equilibrium or balance is created

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from an area of high water concentration to an
area of low water concentration through a semi-permeable membrane.

Take a look at the diagram below which demonstrates osmosis.

1. Identify the semi-permeable membrane.

2. Notice which side has more water molecules.
3. Notice the direction in which water moves.
4. Notice how the water molecules balance off at the end.

Diffusion
- movement of particles
- no semi-permeable membrane
- molecules move from an area where there are many particles to an area where there
are few particles OR an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration
- an equilibrium or balance is created

Diffusion is the movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of

low concentration.
Take a look at the diagram above.

Compare it to the osmosis diagram.

How is it different?

Active Transport
- the movement of ions against a concentration gradient using energy
- no equilibrium is created
Na, K, Ca2+,

Plant cells Animal cells

Substance Substance
Mechanism of
movement
Osmosis 1. water from soil to 1. water entering red
roots of plants blood cells from
tissue fluid
2. water from leaves to 2. H/W
air via transpiration

Diffusion 1. O2 from leaves to 1. CO2 from cells to

atmosphere after alveoli (lungs)
photosynthesis 2. O2 from atmosphere
to lungs to cells
2. CO2 from 3. Glucose from blood
 atmosphere to leaves to muscle cells
(stomata) for
photosynthesis

3. Water vapour
leaving leaves to
atmosphere

Active Transport 1. H/W

2.

Videos on osmosis:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaZ8MtF3C6M&t=112s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Eq8rO3fABM

Read the following on osmosis

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zs63tv4/revision/4