Factors affecting diffusion

• Steepness of the concentration gradient

• Greater the difference in concentration
• Higher the rate of diffusion
• Steepness of the electrochemical gradient
• Determines the diffuse ion rate across the
membrane
• Temperature
• Higher the temperature, the faster the rate of
diffusion
• Mass of the diffusing substance
• Larger the mass of the diffusing particle
• Slower its diffusion rate
• Smaller molecules diffuse more rapidly
• Permeability of the Cell Membrane
• Rate of diffusion is directly proportional to
membrane permeability
• Cell membrane is selectively permeable
• Solubility of the Substance
• Diffusion rate is directly proportional to the
solubility of substances
• Lipid-soluble substances easily
• Thickness of the Cell Membrane
• Rate of diffusion is inversely proportional to the
thickness of the cell membrane
• Increase thickness decrease slow down the
diffusion
• Size of the Molecules
• Rate of diffusion is inversely proportional to the
size of the molecules
• Smaller molecules diffuse rapidly than the
substances with larger molecules
• Surface area
• The larger the surface area available for diffusion
• Faster the diffusion rate
• Air sacs of the lungs have a large surface area
available
• Emphysema
• Diffusion distance
• Greater the distance over which diffusion occur
• The longer it takes
• Diffusion across a plasma membrane takes only a
fraction of a second
• In pneumonia fluid collects in the lungs