Table of Contents
Principle of diffusion
Diffusion is the net movement of a substance from high concentration to low concentration. This difference in concentration is referred to as a concentration gradient. This movement does not require any external energy, but uses the free energy intrinsic to the system.
- Temperature Effects on Diffusion:
- Molecular Mass Effects on Diffusion
Osmosis: diffusion across a membrane
Osmosis is a special case of diffusion. Instead of observing the net change in solute, osmosis follows the net movement of solvent across a semipermeable membrane. Since a semi-permeable membrane permits specific things to pass through, some solutes are partitioned.
Simulation of diffusion through a semipermeable membrane
Simple diffusion of small polar molecules across the membrane
Small uncharged molecules pass through the double layer of phospholipids. Polar, charged or large molecules have great difficulty passing through the membrane and require the aid of transmembrane proteins. An example of a transmembrane protein that facilitates movement of a polar substance is aquaporin, which permits the free movement of water. For example, aquaporins are found in the tubules of the nephrons (in kidneys) for water reabsorption in blood.
Diffusion of water across membranes: effect of tonicity on cells
A cell lacking a cell wall is affected greatly by the tonicity of the environment. In a hypertonic solution where the concentration of dissolved solute is high, water will be drawn out of the cell. In a hypotonic solution where the concentration of dissolved solute is lower than the interior of the cell, the cell will be under great osmotic pressure from the environmental water moving in and can rupture.
Plants have rigid cell walls composed of cellulose. These cell walls permit for maintenance of cellular integrity when the external environment is hypotonic (less dissolved substances). In this situation, the water moves into the cell. Without the cell wall, the cell would burst open from the excessive water pressure entering the cell. This state of swelling is referred to as turgid, resulting from turgor pressure.
When the exterior environment is hypertonic , (greater amount of dissolved substances), the reverse condition occurs whereby the cellular fluid exiting the cell reduces the size of the cytoplasm. This condition is referred to as plasmolysis.
