Integrated Programme

Sec 3 Biology

Topic 3: Diffusion, Osmosis and Active Transport

Topic Outline

1. Introduction
2. Diffusion
A. Definition
B. Concentration Gradient
C. Factors Affecting Diffusion
D. Diffusion Across A Membrane
E. Importance of Diffusion
o Uptake of Nutrients in Humans
o Gaseous Exchange in Plants and Humans
3. Osmosis
A. Definition
B. Water Potential Gradient
C. Effects of Osmosis in Plant and Animal Tissues
D. Turgidity and Plant Cells
4. Active Transport
A. Importance of Active Transport
o Uptake of ions by root hairs
o Uptake of glucose in intestinal villi

HCI BIO Sec 3 Osmosis, Diffusion and Active Transport 1

Created by Mrs Cheryl Siah
Introduction

Importance of Movement of Substances in Cells

For organisms to stay alive, substances need to move in and out of the

cells.

o Nutrients and oxygen to move in

o Waste to move out

A) Diffusion

I) Definition

o Movement of molecules from a region of higher concentration of

the molecules to a region of lower concentration

 Net movement of molecules

o down its concentration/diffusion gradient

o does not require energy (passive)

o occurs in liquids and gases and dissolved solids

o a type of passive transport across the cell membrane

HCI BIO Sec 3 Osmosis, Diffusion and Active Transport 2

Created by Mrs Cheryl Siah
 B) Concentration Gradient

point A point B point A point B

Diffusion of
a gas such
as oxygen

molecules moving about molecules become evenly distributed

molecules diffusing down a concentration gradient

Concentration

Point A Point B
high low
concentration concentration

o difference in concentration of molecules in different regions

 usually in terms of solutes in solution

 e.g. difference in concentration of glucose molecules from

(lower) inside a cell to outside the cell (higher) results in

glucose molecules entering the cell

HCI BIO Sec 3 Osmosis, Diffusion and Active Transport 3

Created by Mrs Cheryl Siah
 o net movement of particles stop when the molecules are

uniformly distributed (when dynamic equilibrium has been

reached - concentration of both regions is the same – even

distribution of particles; random movement of particles still

occurs but at any one time there is an equal chance of a

molecule moving from one region to another)

C. Factors Affecting Rates of Diffusion

o concentration gradient

 the steeper the gradient, the faster the rate of diffusion

o distance particles need to travel

o the shorter the distance, the faster the rate of diffusion

o surface area to volume ratio

 growth of organism results in faster increase in volume

than in surface area

o e.g. increase in cell volume when organism grows is

much faster than increase in its surface area

 http://www.tiem.utk.edu/~gross/bioed/bealsmodules/area

_volume.html

 increase surface area to volume ratio increases rate of

diffusion

 greater surface area exposed increases rate of diffusion

HCI BIO Sec 3 Osmosis, Diffusion and Active Transport 4

Created by Mrs Cheryl Siah
  Adaptation for increase in surface area

 Greatly folded surface – e.g. microvilli in small

intestines

 Elongated structure – e.g. root hair cell

o Nature of diffusion medium

 Pores – larger, greater number of pores increase rate of

diffusion

o Size and nature of particles diffusing

 Smaller particles have a greater rate of diffusion

 Solubility – e.g. solubility of particles in lipid (of plasma

membrane)

D. Diffusion Across Cell Membrane

o very small molecules diffuse rapidly across

 Oxygen, carbon dioxide and water molecules

o Larger molecules do not diffuse across freely

o Special carriers are needed for some particles

 Charged particles

E. Importance of Diffusion

o Gaseous Exchange in Humans

 Thin alveolar tissue (air sacs) in lungs

 Thin capillaries next to aveoli

HCI BIO Sec 3 Osmosis, Diffusion and Active Transport 5

Created by Mrs Cheryl Siah
  short pathway for diffusion of gases

 Large surface area of exchange

 30,000,000 alveoli per 75 KG person!

 Dense network of capillaries

 Constant blood flow to maintain fast rate of diffusion

 gradient is always present (blood newly flowing in

always lesser in O2)

 encourages diffusion of oxygen from lungs to blood

HCI BIO Sec 3 Osmosis, Diffusion and Active Transport 6

Created by Mrs Cheryl Siah
 * concentration O2 always higher in aveoli and lower and

blood capillaries, and hence a concentration gradient

results and ensures fast rate of diffusion into the blood

o Gaseous Exchange in Leaves

 Large surface area

HCI BIO Sec 3 Osmosis, Diffusion and Active Transport 7

Created by Mrs Cheryl Siah
 o Many leaves per plant

o Many stomata per leaf

o Many mesophyll cells per leaf

o Large intercellular spaces in spongy mesophyll

 Wind will maintain the concentration gradient for the

exchange of gases

 Short pathway for diffusion of gases

 flat leaf surface to ensure fast rate of gaseous

exchange

 stomata opening allows for diffusion from surface of leaf

to mesophyll cells (where photosynthesis occur)

directly.

o Uptake of Nutrients in Humans

 Large surface area for absorption of nutrients

 Circular folds (plicae circulares) of the small intestine

wall

 Layer of cells closest to food folded into villi

 Membrane of cells (of villi) folded into microvilli

HCI BIO Sec 3 Osmosis, Diffusion and Active Transport 8

Circular
Created by Mrs Cheryl Siah
folds
 

NB:Black box in each picture shows area that is magnified in next drawing

 Highly vascularised

 Blood capillaries

 Lacteal (lymphatic capillaries)

o Short pathway for diffusion of nutrients

 Epithelium of small intestine is one cell thick

 Capillaries are also one cell thick

HCI BIO Sec 3 Osmosis, Diffusion and Active Transport 9

Created by Mrs Cheryl Siah