DEFINTION - diffusion is the spreading out of
particles from an area of higher concentration to an
area of lower concentration
diffusion is simple - it's just the gradual movement of particles from places
where there are lots of them to places where there are fewer of them - natural
tendency for stuff spreading out.
Diffusion happens in both solutions and gases - that's
because the particles in these substances are free to
move about randomly
the simplest type is when different gasses diffuse through each other.
the bigger the concentration gradient (the
difference in concentration) the faster the
diffusion rate
A higher temperature will also give a
faster diffusion rate because the
particles have more energy, so move
around faster.
Cell membranes are kind of clever
they are clever because they hold the cell together BUT they
let stuff in and out as well
Dissolved substances can move in and out of cells
by diffusion
only very small molecules can diffuse through cell
membranes though - things like oxygen, glucose,
amino acids and water
Big molecules like starch and proteins can't fit through the
membrane
just like with diffusion in air, particles flow through the cell
membrane from where there's a higher concentration to
where there's a lower concentration.
they're only moving about randomly of course, so they go both ways -
but ig there are a lot more particles on one side of the membrane,
there's a net (overall) movement from that side
the larger the surface area of the membrane, the faster the diffusion rate, because
more particles can pass through at once.