Movement of substances

Movement of substances consists of diffusion, osmosis, and active transport.

Diffusion

The net movement of particles down a concentration gradient is known as

diffusion.

Concentration gradient is the difference in concentration between two regions.

The gentler the concentration gradient, the slower the rate of diffusion.

Solutes diffuse independently of each other (ie particles of different substances will
be evenly distributed in a solution)

Diffusion of substances can occur across a cell surface membrane.

The cells of our lungs exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide through diffusion and so
do plant cells such as root hair cells.

Osmosis

The movement of water molecules through a partially permeable membrane, from

a solution of higher to lower potential.

Water potential is a measure of the tendency of water to move from one place to
another.
• A dilute solution has a higher water potential (and vice versa)
• Solutions of similar concentration have similar water potential

Concentration gradient is affected by

• Size of particles
• Membrane thickness
• Pore size / pressure / temperature
• Surface area

Chapter 3 - Movement of substances 1

Osmosis affecting living organisms
Living cells take in water when placed in a solution of higher water potential (ie
dilute solution)
• Animal cells may swell up and burst
• Plants cells do not burst since they have a cell wall
Turgor pressure is the pressure exerted outwards on the plant cell due to the water
in the cell, giving the cell its firmness and supporting soft tissues in the plant.

Living cells gain water when placed in a solution of higher water potential (dilute
solution) and vice versa.

The shrinking of cytoplasm away from the cell wall when plant cells are immersed in
a solution more concentrated than their cell sap is known as plasmolysis.

Surface area to volume ratio

A small cell has a larger surface

area to volume ration than a large
cell of the same shape.

The larger the surface area to

volume ratio, the faster the rate of
movement of substances.

Modifications in cells to increase

surface area to volume ration
include:
• Long, narrow protrusions of root hair cells
• Microvilli in epithelial cells in the small intestine
• Biconcave shape of red blood cells

Active transport

The process in which energy is used to move the particles of a substance against a
concentration gradient from a region of lower concentration, to a region of higher
concentration.

Active transport occurs in the absorption of:

• Dissolved mineral salts by the root hairs
• Glucose and amino acids by cells in the small intestine

Chapter 3 - Movement of substances 2