Section 2: Structures and functions in living organisms

d) Movement of substances into and out of cells

Diffusion
Lesson objectives
 2.15 understand the process of diffusion, osmosis and active transport by which
substances move into and out of cells

 2.16 understand how factors affect the rate of movement of substances into and
out of cells, including the effects of surface area to volume ratio, distance,
temperature and concentration gradient

 Diffusion
 Osmosis
You need to know:
 Active Transport

+ factors affecting the rate of movement

 Amoeba proteus 0.2 to 0.3 mm in diameter but
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln69k7LyTsU larger forms have been found measuring up to 0.5
mm in diameter which is visible to the eye

You are a unicellular organism.

What do you do?
 Respire (respiratory gases: oxygen, CO2)
 

Nutrients (glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals)

 Excrete (metabolic waste products – e.g. CO2)

Exchange substances with the environment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln69k7LyTsU

You are a unicellular organism.

What do you do?
 Respire (respiratory gases: oxygen, CO2)
 

Nutrients (glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals)

 Excrete (metabolic waste products – e.g. CO2)

Exchange substances with the environment.

Oxygen,
nutrients
Waste
How does it happen ???

Oxygen,
nutrients
Waste
 Cells use 3 processes
to move things in and out of cells

1.Diffusion.
2.Osmosis
3.Active Transport
 Diffusion in the air
(demo with scented spray)

• Raise your hand when you are able to detect the scent.

• What is happening with the scent?

• How is the scent travelling across the room?

 Particles will
spread out from
an area of high
concentration to
an area of low
concentration.
This process is
called DIFFUSION
 The air is busy.
How can the scented molecules
travel across the room?

 Particles in liquid or gas state of

mater have movement (Kinetic Theory of
Matter)

 They bump into each other.

 The movement resulted from all
this bumping is a Random pattern of
movement (Brownian movement)
 After much bumping into all sorts of
molecules in the air, the scented
molecules have spread out and
reach your noses.
 The scent has DIFFUSED through
the air
Diffusion in the water

What is going to happen?

 Liquid and gas particles move randomly

 The final result is the spread out of the particle
 Diffusion does not require energy
 Diffusion

Diffusion is the net movement of particles/molecules

from an area of higher concentration
to an area of lower concentration.
(until evenly distributed)
(Net Movement = overall movement, or, what you observe as final result)

High
concentration Dow Diffusion is a
na
con passive
cent
ratio process: it
n gr
adie doesn’t
nt
Low require
concentration
energy
Diffusion is the net movement of particles
in a gas or liquid
from an area of higher concentration
to an area of lower concentration,
(resulting in an even distribution)

Diffusion is a
passive
process: it
doesn’t
require
energy
How does it happen ???

Oxygen,
nutrients
Waste
 How does it happen ???

Diffusion
Through the
cell membrane
(partially permeable)
 Diffusion through partially
permeable membranes
Diffusion can happen across a membrane
as long as the substance is small enough or if there are
specific pores on the membrane for it to pass through.
Diffusion through the cell membrane
(a partially permeable membrane)

The cell membrane is a

partially permeable membrane
and controls what moves in and
out of the cell.

It allows the diffusion of

substances that are small
enough to pass through the cell
membrane, or the cell
membrane has pores or
channels for it.
Diffusion through the cell membrane
(a partially permeable membrane)

Diffusion is a process that

happens in all living organisms

It is used by cells to exchange

some substances with the
environment “for free”
(passive process – does not
require energy).
Diffusion through the cell membrane
(a partially permeable membrane)

Only very small molecules can

diffuse through the cell
membrane, such as:
Carbon dioxide, oxygen, water,
glucose and amino acids.

Big molecules like proteins and

starch cannot diffuse through
cell membranes.
Diffusion in cells
Concentration Gradient

LOW HIGH
concentration concentration

A difference in concentration between 2 areas is

called a CONCENTRATION GRADIENT.

What effect might the gradient have on speed of

diffusion?
Inside Cell Outside Cell
 Plenary

Tell me
something this Tell me something this
lesson reminded lesson made you think
you of about

Tell me something
new you learnt
today
Diffusion in cells
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-biology/chapter/passive-transport/
Outside of the cell

Inside of the cell