SPM Biology Form 4 Notes –
Ca2+ and K+)
Terminology and Concepts: Movement
of Substances Across the Plasma
Membrane (Part I)
Berry Berry Easy is back with SPM Form 4 Biology notes
for “Movement of substances across the plasma
membrane“. The plasma membrane is a membrane of
biological nature which forms the barrier between the
interior of a cell against external environment. However,
do not just think of it as a layer which do not have any
function. Typically, movement of substances to and from
cells to outer environment is controlled (due to its
permeability) by the plasma membrane. The key concept
here for this topic is to understand the selective-
permeability nature of a plasma membrane. The rest of the
topic are rather easy and intuitive. Do note that plasma
membrane is also known as cell membrane and
plasmalemma.
SPM Biology Form 4 – Terminology and Concepts:
Movement of Substances Across the Plasma Membrane
(Part 1)
1. Uniqueness of Plasma Membrane (also known as cell
membrane):
- it is a semi-permeable cell membrane
- it allows water and certain substances to move in
and out of the cell.
2. Importance of Plasma Membrane:
- cells obtain nutrients and gases
 cells excrete metabolic wastes
 cells can maintain pH for enzyme activity
 cells can maintain ionic concentration of the cells
for enzyme activity
 control the types and the amount of substances
 allow useful substance (hormones/enzymes) to
secrete from cells
 protect cells
 a boundary between the inside and outside of cell.
3. Structure of the basic unit of plasma membrane
 Phospholipid molecule:
‘Head’ – hydrophilic: a polar phosphate molecule
(philic~loves water / attracted to water)
‘Tail’ – hydrophobic: two non-polar fatty
acids (phobic~hates water / repelled to water)
 Formation:
Hydrophilic heads pointing outwards
Hydrophobic tails pointing inwards
(Bilayer phospolipid)
Fluid Mosaic Model (Protein embedded in the bilayer)
Carrier protein
 carrier for some molecules (glucose, amino acids,
proteins and nucleic acids)
 controls the movement of ions and particles (Na+,
 Glycoprotein
Glycolipid
 combination of lipids and polysaccharides
4. Permeability
Permeable (allow to pass through)
 small non-polar molecules (vitamins A, D, E, K, fatty
acids, glycerol and steroids)
Impermeable (not allow to pass through but with help of carrier
protein and cellular energy, it is allow to pass through)
 large polar molecules (glucose, amino acids,
mucleic acids and polysaccharides)
 charged ions (H+, Na+, K+, Cl- and Ca2+)
Substances that are allowed to move in the cell:
 CO2
 O2
 excess H2O
 waste: nitrogenous
Substances that are allowed to move out of the cell:
 CO2
 O2
 amino acids
 ionic salts
 glucose
Materials must be able to move through the plasma
membrane in order for the cell cytoplasma to interact
with the external environment. Therefore, the movement
of soluble substances can occur in several mechanisms:
o Process of Passive Transport
o Process of Active Transport
A. Passive Transport
i) Simple Diffusion
- not selective: lipid-soluble molecules, gases and
water.
- not control by cell.
- movement of the molecules from a region
of higher concentration to a region of lower
concentration.
- Factors affecting the rate of diffusion
are temperature, size of molecules/ions, diffusion
gradient, surface area anddiffusion medium.
- example: diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide at
the alveolus.
ii) Osmosis: 3) Hypertonic
- only water molecules.  Solute concentration in the external solution is
- not control by cell.
- movement of water from a region of higher greater than solute concentration inside the cell.
concentration to one of lower concentration and  Water concentration outside the cell is lower than the
often occurs across asemipermeable membrane. water concentration inside the cell.
- strong sucrose solution = less water molecule =
low water potential. Types of solutions:
- weak sucrose solution = more water molecule = Type Hypotonic Isotonic Hypertonic
high water potential.
of
- example: absorption of water by root hairs.
Solut
iii) Facilitated Diffusion:
 very specific: glucose, nucleic aicds, amino acids, ion
protein and mineral ions. Anim The No The cell shrinks and
 control by cell.
al cell inflates due change in becomes soft anddehyd
 transport of molecules (only certain molecules)
across the outer membrane of living cell by a Cell to the water the size rated due to the water
process of carrier protein(hydrophilic group) molecules enter of molecule leave the
/ channel protein (Ions: Na+, Ca2+, K+) within the cell the cell. cell. Net cell. Example: red
membrane. Eventually moveme blood cell in 5% sodium
 normally take place from a region with higher
it bursts(thin nt of chloride solution.
concentration of molecules to a region of lower
concentration. plama water is
 example: absorption of digested food in the villus. membrane). Exa zero. Exa
B. Process of Active Transport mple: red blood mple: red
 very specific: minerals ions and amino acids. cell in distilled blood cell
 control by cell.
water. in 0.85%
 This process needs carrier proteins and energy
(due to against concentration gradient) from a sucrose
region of lower concentration to a region of higher solution.
concentration). Plant The No The cell
 Cell must expend energy that derived from ATP
Cell cell expands and change in becomes flaccid(plasmo
(adenosine triphosphate)
 example: human nerve cells (sodium ions are becomes firm / t the size lysis occurs), vacuole
constantly transport out of the cell) / ions intake by urgid due to the of and
root hairs of a plant. water molecules cell. Net cytoplasmashrink due
enter the cell. moveme to the water molecules

Type of Solution The rigidcellulos nt of leave the cell. Example:

1. Hypotonic e cell wall water is strip of potato in 30%

2. Isotonic expands slightly zero. Exa sucrose solution.

3. Hypertonic and prevents cell mple:

1) Hypotonic from strip of

 Solute concentration in the external solution is bursting. Examp potato in

lesser than solute concentration inside the cell. le: strip of 5%

 Water concentration outside the cell is higher than potato in sucrose

the water concentration inside the cell. distilled water. solution.

2) Isotonic
 Solute concentration in the external solution is
equal to the solute concentration inside the cell.
 Water concentration inside and outside of the cell is
the same.
Application
1. Food is soaked in a concentrated salt solution to
prevent bacteria and fungus to survive.
2. Chemical fertiliser (dissolved ions) increases solute
concentration (decrease water molecules) in soil.
Therefore, water leaves from the cell sap of the plant
which result the plant wither.