Diffusion

Most common type of passive transport.

Diffusion is the random movement of

particles (atoms, ions, molecules) from a
region of high concentration to low
concentration, down a concentration gradient.

Molecules diffuse down a concentration

gradient.

Diffusion stops when molecules dispersed

evenly (with no concentration gradient), and a
state of equilibrium is reached.

Process of diffusion

Dissolved substance diffuse throughout liquid in which

they are dissolved.

Example of diffusion:
Gas exchange in lungs

Why is diffusion important?

Diffusion is important for:
Gaseous exchange (oxygen, carbon dioxide)
during respiration and photosynthesis

Excreting waste products e.g. ammonia, water,

mineral salts

Absorption of digested food into blood through

walls of small intestine.

Enables animals to detect food by smell.

Osmosis

A form of passive transport process

Osmosis diffusion/movement of water

molecules across a selectively permeable
membrane from a region of higher water
concentration to a region of lower water
concentration.

A partially/selectively permeable
membrane only allows certain molecules to
pass through it but not others.
What is the difference between
diffusion and osmosis?

Osmosis demonstration

Osmosis and Plant cells

In plant cells, cell sap contains dissolved salts

and sugar. If cell sap has lower water potential
than that of surrounding solution, water enters
by osmosis.

Plant cell will swell and become firm / turgid.

Plant cell walls prevent cells from bursting.

Turgor pressure - outward pressure which cell

sap exerts against inside wall of cell.

Turgor helps to support soft tissues in plants

Osmosis and Plant cells

If cell sap has higher water

potential than surrounding
solution, water moves out of the
vacuole and cytoplasm shrinks
away from the cell wall.

Cell loses its turgor, shrinks and

becomes flaccid or soft. The cell
becomes plasmolysed.

Plasmolysis - shrinkage of
cytoplasm away from the cell
wall when plant cells are
immersed in a solution of low
water potential.

Plasmolysis causes land plants

to wilt, in non-woody parts of
plants e.g. leaves, shoots

Dilute vs Concentrated
solutions
A

Hypotonic - Dilute solution A ( higher water

potential) compared to concentrated sugar
solution B ( lower water potential)

Hypertonic - Solution B has water potential

compared to solution A

Isotonic - when both solutions have the same

water potential (iso: same as; tonicity:
strength of solution).
(Terms apply to animal systems only.)

Osmosis in plant and animal cells

Osmosis and Plant cells

Osmosis and Animal cells

Active Transport
Active transport - molecules move from a
region of low concentration to a high
concentration (against a concentration
gradient) using energy from respiration
Only in living cells
Cell contains numerous mitochondria, with
high respiratory rate to provide energy for
this process
Examples:
Absorption of dissolved mineral salts by
root hairs
Absorption of glucose and amino acids by
cells in small intestine

Active Transport
Presence of microvilli increases surface area
for active transport of glucose into cells of
small intestine.
Small cell has larger surface area:volume
ratio than a large cell of same shape.
Cells are modified to increase surface area:
volume ratio e.g. root hair cells, microvilli in
small intestine and flattened, biconcave
shape of red blood cells.
Accumulation of iodine by
marine organisms