BIOLOGY

LESSON
Chapter 3: Diffusion, Osmosis and
Surface Area: Volume Ratio
 Diffusion
Diffusion is the movement of ions or
molecules from a high region where they
are in higher concentration to a region
where they are in lower concentration,
i.e. down a concentration gradient.
Diffusion in Humans and Plants
• Oxygen diffuses into blood cells from
alveolus
• Carbon dioxide diffuses out of the
blood capillaries into alveolus
• Plants take CO2 from the
environment for photosynthesis and
diffuses out O2 etc.
 Osmosis
It is the movement of water molecules from a solution of
higher water potential to a solution of lower water
potential through a partially permeable membrane.

Or

It is a process by which molecules of a solvent (water) pass

through a semipermeable membrane from a less
concentrated solution into a more concentrated one.

• Water Potential- Free water

molecules.
• Semi/partial permeable membrane-
A membrane that allows certain
molecules to pass through but stops
the other molecules.
 Hypertonic, Isotonic and Hypotonic Solutions.
Consider two solutions X and Y. Solution X has higher water potential than solution Y. Therefore,
solution A is said to be hypotonic with regard to solution B. If two solutions are of equal concentrations
they are isotonic. A solution with a lower water potential than another is said to be hypertonic.
Partially permeable membrane
 Gatorade drink

Haemolysis

Crenation
Active Transport
Active transport is the process in 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

Active transport is involved in a number of processes

occurring within an organism. Such as, absorption of
• Dissolved mineral salts by the root hairs
• Glucose and amino acids by cells in the small intestine
of humans
 Surface area to Volume ratio Or (SA:V)
It refers to the amount of surface a structure has relative to its
size/volume. To calculate the SA/V ratio, simply divide the
surface area by the volume. Why are WE made up
of trillions of cells?
Why aren’t we made
Why is it important? up of ONE giant cell?

Because it is one of the factors that determines how quickly

substances can diffuse into and out of the cell.

Small cells have high SA/V, and are therefore efficient in

diffusion and vice-versa.
Surface area to Volume ratio Or (SA:V) Calculation
 Surface area to Volume ratio application

Can you now guess why we are made up

of trillions of tiny cells?

How do Elephants lose their body heat?

How do Whales maintain their body

temperature under water?

Why do we wrap around our hands during

winter?
Ready to answer some questions?
THANKS!
Does anyone have any
questions?