Chapter 3

MOVEMENT/TRANSPORT IN AND OUT

OF CELLS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Understand how substances move in and out of the cell through the
cell membrane. (Plus understand plasma membrane structure)
2. Give examples of passive and active transport
3. Explain what diffusion and net movement of particles are
4. Investigate factors that affect diffusion
5. Describe and Give examples of diffusion in living organisms
6. Explain what osmosis is
7. Investigate the effect off different concentrations of solutions and
osmosis on animal and plant cells
8. Explain what active transport is and describe its process
9. Give examples of active transport in living organisms
WHAT SURROUNDS OUR SCHOOL?

WHY DO WE HAVE THIS?

HOW DO YOU ENTER OUR SCHOOL?

Cells need

 Food materials which they can oxidise for energy or build their structures

 Salt and water which is involved in the chemical reactions (metabolism) in

the cell
(Anabolism-synthesize complex molecules from simple molecules, eg. making
proteins from amino acids
Catabolism-breaking down large molecules into simple, smaller molecules, eg.
oxidation of glucose into H2O, CO2 and energy during cellular respiration)

 To eliminate (remove) waste substances such as carbon dioxide (cannot

be accumulated over long periods of time in large amount)
 Look at the structure of the plasma membrane,
have you ever wondered how substances move
across?

*The plasma membrane separates the cell contents from the external environment and
regulates the movement of substances into and out of the cell)*
The Fluid Mosaic Model
(two layers of phospholipids form a phospholipid bilayer)

Proposed by S.J. Singer and G.L. Nicholson in 1972 to explain the structure of the plasma membrane
‘Fluid’ refers to the dynamic and flexible structure of the phospholipid bilayer where proteins can move freely within it
‘Mosaic’ refers to the arrangement of various types of macromolecules such as proteins, glycolipids, glycoproteins in the phospholipid bilayer
 Attracts water
molecules

Repel water
molecules
Pore/Channel protein-Has
tiny pores which allow Cholesterol-Strengthens
small water molecules and the plasma membrane,
Glycoprotein & Glycolipid
ions to cross makes it more stable,
(polysaccharides/carbohydrates
flexible but less permeable
+ protein & lipid)-To help cells
Carrier protein-Carries to water-soluble substances
to identify one another
large molecules (eg.
glucose, amino acids)
across the plasma
Examples of semi-permeable membrane
Natural Synthetic

Egg shell membrane Visking tube (dialysis tubing and

cellophane membrane)

Cell membrane Reverse osmosis membrane

Pic: Egg shell membrane Visking tube

HOW DO YOU TRAVEL TO
SCHOOL?
Means by which substances
travel/ move into and out of the cell
Passive transport Active transport

Allows molecules to pass through Pumps molecules through the

 Passive transport the plasma membrane following plasma membrane against a
a concentration gradient concentration gradient
1. Diffusion
Does not require cellular energy Requires cellular energy (in the
2. Osmosis form of ATP (adenosine
triphosphate)
3. Facilitated
Diffusion Eg. small, uncharged, water- Eg. Ions, large proteins,
(Year 12) soluble substances like oxygen, complex sugars
carbon dioxide, water
 Active transport
(Through Carrier Proteins)
 The 3 characteristics of whether a substances can
move across the plasma membrane’s bilayer naturally
are:
3

1. Polarity (lipid-soluble or water-soluble)

2. Ionic charge (has charge or not)
3. Size of the molecules (small or large)
1 2
VS

VS

Neutral
Diffusion
  Your teacher has just sprayed a few spritz of
perfume into the air

 Who will be able to detect the smell of

perfume first? Students closer to the teacher
(the originating source of the perfume) or
students further away from the teacher?

tt tttt ttt
Pss s ttt

How did the perfume molecules diffuse from the front

of the classroom towards the middle portion and finally
the back of the classroom?
What is diffusion?
 Diffusion is the net movement of molecules/ions from a
region of higher concentration to a region of lower
concentration (down a concentration gradient) as a result
of their random movement until it reaches a state of
equilibrium
Concentration gradient – difference of
concentration of a substance between two regions​

 It is a form of passive transport (require no expenditure of

cellular energy)
The cell membrane is a semi-permeable layer surrounding the cell.
It allows tiny particles to pass through them. Large particles are
unable to pass through.
Molecules entering a cell by diffusion
What if there is a mixture of
particles?
MOVEMENT of Particles in
Diffusion
Examples of diffusion in REAL LIFE
Larger animals rely on gas
exchange organs such as
lungs or gills

Smaller animals have high total

surface area to volume ratio
(TSA/V) and may obtain oxygen
through their body surface
(Their bodies are so thin they don’t need a
circulatory system, they rely on diffusion. They
don’t have a heart, gills, blood vessels or
blood)
 Leaves have openings in them
called stomata (singular, stoma) that open and
close through the use of guard cells
surrounding them. Gas exchange
during
 During photosynthesis, the level of carbon
dioxide is low inside the leaf (carbon dioxide is
photosynthesis
used up during photosynthesis and oxygen is
released)

 This creates a big concentration gradient so Less carbon dioxide,

More oxygen
carbon dioxide diffuses into the cell.

More oxygen,
 Oxygen and water vapour diffuses out of the Less carbon dioxide

cell.
Why is diffusion so important?

 In living organisms, the process of gaseous exchange

occurs through the exchange of oxygen and carbon
dioxide

 It is the way how solutes dissolve in water, such as

mineral ions, food molecules enter a living organism

 It is the way waste substances (eg. urea) are excreted

from the living organism into the environment
Let us recap what we have learnt
in the previous lesson…
Question 1
Define the terms ‘net movement’ and ‘diffusion’

Net movement
-the TOTAL sum of movement in all the different directions
possible

Diffusion
-the net movement of particles from an area of high concentration
to an area of lower concentration (down a concentration gradient)
through the random movement of particles until it reaches a state
of equilibrium.
Question 2

Is diffusion across a cell membrane a passive

or active process? Explain your answer.

Passive, because no energy is provided by the cell for it to

happen
Question 3

What substances can move into and out of cell

through simple diffusion?

Uncharged molecules (eg. water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, waste

substances)

Particles that are small enough to pass through the membrane can
diffuse.

Fat soluble molecules (eg. fatty acids, glycerol, vitamins A, D, E, K)

Diffusion relies on a concentration
gradient!
 1.) Temperature IMPORTANT
3.) Closer Distance
Kinetic energy increases for Level 2 Particles move faster
Particles move faster and 3 as there is less distance
Higher diffusion rate Questions! to cover
(speeds up)
Diffusion rate 

Factors affecting
2.) Concentration gradient the rate of 4.) Surface area
Kinetic energy 
Particles move faster  diffusion Greater surface area,
Means more efficient
Diffusion rate  diffusion
(eg. microvilli lining the
intestine)
Osmosis
What is osmosis?
 Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from a region of
higher water potential to a region of lower water potential
(down the water potential gradient) across a semi-permeable
membrane.

n of L IQ U ID
o
 A form of passive transport Diffusi s c alled
e r i
w at I S.
(does not require ATP energy) OSMOS

 It is VERY SIMILAR to diffusion…BUT

there are several differences
Water potential

 Water potential is the measure of the concentration of

water molecules that can diffuse freely or the tendency of
water molecules to diffuse from one region to another
(how likely to lose or gain water molecules from another
solution)

 The higher the water potential, the easier the water

molecules can diffuse/move.
 Differences between diffusion and
osmosis
Diffusion Osmosis
Occurs for all particles (solid, liquid Limited only to liquid WATER.
and gas)
Does not require a semi-permeable ALWAYS requires a semi-permeable
membrane membrane.
Does not require water for the Required water for the movement of Diffusion can neither
movement of particles particles be stopped nor
Both the solute and solvent Only the solvent molecules (water) reversed.
molecules can diffuse can diffuse
The flow of particles occurs in all The flow of particles occurs only in Osmosis can be
directions one direction (unidirectional) stopped or reversed by
applying additional
Depends on the presence of other Depends on the number of solute pressure on the
particles particles dissolved in the solvent solution
Eg. spreading of fragrance molecules Eg. shrinking of potato slice when
across the room, exchange of gases placed in a concentrated solution
between the alveoli and blood (hypertonic solution), helps plants to
capillaries, gaseous exchange during absorb water from the soil, helps
photosynthesis animal cells to transport nutrients
Osmotic pressure
 Osmotic pressure is the pressure which needs to be applied to a
solution to prevent the inward flow of water across a
semipermeable membrane.

 The more concentrated a solute (fewer water molecules), the

higher the osmotic pressure. Hence osmosis will occur faster.

 Water molecules will move from a region of low osmotic pressure

(less concentrated/fewer solutes) to a region of high osmotic
pressure (more solutes)

To understand osmotic pressure and water potential further we

need to know 3 DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOLUTIONS…
Isotonic, Hypotonic and Hypertonic solutions

Hypotonic Hypertonic
solution
A solution with fewer solutes
A solution
solution with more
solutes & less solvent.
& more solvent.

Isotonic What other solutes

solution
A solution with the SAME
are there?
concentration of solutes and
solvent.
RIBENA is a syrup which
makes it a SOLUTE… you mix
it with WATER which is a
SOLVENT.
 The effects of isotonic, hypotonic and
hypertonic solutions on CELLS.

Isotonic Hypotonic Hypertonic

solution
Same concentration of solutes and Fewer solution
solutes, more solvent. More solution
solutes, less solvent.
solvent. There is no net movement Water particles will move into Water molecules will move out
of water particles and the overall the cell, causing the cell to of the cell causing
concentration of both sides of the expand and eventually lyse crenation/shriveling (animal
cell membrane remains constant (animal cell)/becomes turgid cell) or plasmolysis (plant cell)
(plant cell)
Important terminologies
 Turgid - Full of water

 Flaccid - Not full of water

 Turgor pressure - The pressure caused by the water in the

cytoplasm on the cell wall that prevents more water from
entering

 Plasmolysis - The removal of water from a plant cell so that it

shrinks in size (or the cell membrane surrounding the
cytoplasm of a plant cell pulls away from the cell wall)
 APPLYING The concept of osmosis & Semi-Permeable
Membrane
• High • Low
concentration concentration
of solvent of solvent
(water) (water)
• High water • Low water
potential potential
• Low • High
concentration concentration
of solute of solute
(sucrose) (sucrose)
• Low osmotic • High osmotic
pressure pressure

The diffusion of water molecules will continue down the water potential
gradient until the water potential in both regions becomes equal
*refer to the given handout
HIGH water concentration = LOW concentration
of solutes​
​
LOW water concentration = HIGH concentration
of solutes​
​
Examples of osmosis in biology

 Absorption of underground water by root hairs of plants

 Movement of water from one cell to a neighbouring cell
(plant AND animal cells)
Active transport
The plasma membrane allows the movement of substances across it
through the following processes.

Simple diffusion Facilitated diffusion Active transport

Uncharged small Small molecules, Large water-soluble Molecules pass
molecules and fat- charged or molecules pass through the carrier
soluble molecules uncharged pass through the carrier protein against its
move across the through the pore protein concentration
phospholipid proteins gradient, using
bilayer energy
What is active transport?

 Active transport is the movement of molecules across the plasma

membrane AGAINST the concentration gradient (from a region of
low concentration to a region of high concentration)

 Uses energy produced by mitochondria during cellular respiration

 Only occurs across the plasma membrane of living cells

 Active transport is impeded by metabolic poisons (eg. cyanide) or

lack of oxygen
Examples of active transport in
biological system
 The absorption of glucose and amino acids by cells in the
small intestine

 The absorption of soluble mineral ions/salts by the root hairs.

The concentration of mineral ions are high inside the cell sap
as compared to the soil. These nutrients are transported into
the cells via active transport

 Sodium and potassium ions: transported across the

membrane of nerve cells which is important for nerve function
Summary
Diffusion
 High concentration Facilitated diffusion
Low  High concentration Low
concentration Carrier
 Down a concentration concentration Carrier
proteins  Down a concentration
gradient proteins
 Solutes move gradient
Energy  Solutes move
Energy

Osmosis Active transport

 High water potential  Low concentration High
Carrier
Low water potential proteins concentration
 Only water molecules move  Against concentration Carrier
proteins
 Down the water potential gradient
gradient  Solutes move
Energy Energy
These powerpoint slides are for your reference. Extra
reading of your coursebook is necessary and additional
reading will definitely reinforce learning.