Lecture 3:

Cell
Membrane,
Diffusion
Karl Wagner, CHE353, Fall 2024

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 Overview:
1 The Cell
Membrane
Cell Membrane – Properties (Overview)
1. Defines the boundary: defines an internal environment which may be controlled
separately from a different cell
2. Membrane is locus of communication with external environment
3. Composed of phospholipids organized in a bilayer motif
4. Not uniform, contains microdomains of various types of lipids and proteins,
which can actively move through the bilayer depending on signals (external and
internal).
5. Membranes have selective permeability. They are permeable to nonpolar,
uncharged molecules i.e. oxygen, carbon dioxide,
steroids, but impermeable to ions and polar molecules,
such as glucose.
6. Many cell-surface proteins are involved in the transport
of molecules in and out of the cell.
1. Cell Membrane as a Boundary:
Intracellular vs. Extracellular Environment
Typical ion concentrations in mammalian cytoplasm
[intracellular] and blood/plasma [extracellular].
Concentration in Concentration in
Ion cytoplasm plasma
(millimolar) (millimolar)
Potassium 139 4
Sodium 12 145
Chloride 4 116
Bicarbonate 12 29
Amino acids in
138 9
proteins
Magnesium 0.8 1.5
(Wikipedia)
2. Cell Membrane and Communication

Cells interact with

their environment
through their
plasma membrane &
cell surface proteins

Lecture 8 –
Receptors/Signal
Transduction
The cell membrane is a

Phospholipid
Bilayer
What does this mean?
3. Cell Membrane Composition: Lipids
glycerol
Organic chemistry
refresher:
Triglycerides:
● Ester of glycerol + 3
fatty acids = a lipid
3 fatty acids
● Lipids and
hydrophobicity
3. Cell Membrane Composition

Cell membrane:
Contains Saturated and
Unsaturated Fatty Acids
3. Membrane Composition: Phospholipids
Also other groups (serine, inositol)

● Phosphatidylcholine
○ Base molecular unit
of cell membrane
○ Diglyceride +
Phosphate + Choline
● Hydrophobic tail,
hydrophilic head
○ Why?

Also sphingolipids (not glycerol based)

3. Membrane Composition: Phospholipid
Bilayer
[Extracellular fluid]

● Phospholipids self
assemble to form bilayer
○ WHY?

● Minimizing free energy

[Intracellular fluid (cytosol)]

3. Membrane Composition: Cholesterol

• An amphiphile
• Makes membrane less
deformable, stabilizes
membrane
• Increases thickness and
impenetrability, improves
mechanical properties
4. Membranes are non-uniform: ‘Fluid
Mosaic’ Model
● Membrane is locus of
cell communication –
membrane proteins
are receptors for cholesterol
extracellular signals
and attachment and
are transport
channels
● Membrane is fluid –
distribution of
components is not Peripheral protein
uniform, changes
○ Response to
stimuli
Cell Membrane – Properties (Overview)
1. Defines the boundary: defines an internal environment which may be controlled
separately from a different cell
2. Membrane is locus of communication with external environment
3. Composed of phospholipids organized in a bilayer motif
4. Not uniform, contains microdomains of various types of lipids and proteins,
which can actively move through the bilayer depending on signals (external and
internal).
5. Membranes have selective permeability. They are permeable to nonpolar,
uncharged molecules i.e. oxygen, carbon dioxide,
steroids, but impermeable to ions and polar molecules,
such as glucose.
6. Many cell-surface proteins are involved in the transport
of molecules in and out of the cell.
5. Selective Permeability of Cell Membrane

● Nature of phospholipid bilayer

determines its permeability to
biomolecules

● Selectively permeable to small

molecules, lipid soluble (non-
polar molecules)

● Polar molecules, ions – can’t

pass directly through
membrane…
5. Selective Permeability of Cell Membrane

Permeability = diffusivity x
“solubility”

(Calculations to come later)

6. Membrane-bound proteins
● Protein content within membrane
depends on cell type, location
○ mitochondrial membrane: 76% Integral vs. Peripheral membrane proteins:
protein
○ myelin membrane: 18% protein

● Not fixed in place - move pending

carbohydrate
external influence (minimize local
free energy)

● ~ 60% of all drug targets; ~ 30% of

the human genome

● Carbohydrates chemically bound to

proteins (or lipids) are antigens (e.g.,
blood group) – will discuss later!
6. Membrane-bound proteins: Integral Proteins
● Last week: primary structure of
protein determines order of amino
acids Extracytoplasmic
region
● Secondary structure and beyond – R
groups interact with one another

● End up with variable regions of polar

amino acids, non-polar amino acids,
charged amino acids etc. localized
through protein length

● Integral : embedded within membrane

○ Hydrophilic amino acids tend to
localize to outside/inside of
cell (exposed to water)
○ Hydrophobic amino acids tend
Intracytoplasmic tail
to localize to transmembrane
area (exposed to lipids)
6. Membrane-bound proteins: Signalling

● Integral proteins play important roles

in cell signalling (lecture 8)

● Integral proteins also have roles in

transport across the membrane
(discussed later today)
6. Membrane-bound proteins: Peripheral
Proteins

● Example of peripheral proteins –

electron transport chain

● Will discuss later with respect to

signalling, metabolism
 In-Depth:
2 Membrane
Transport
Poll Question:
Test your pre-existing knowledge: match the
type of transport to its properties!

https://app.wooclap.com/events/DIRUUE/
 In-Depth:
2 Membrane
Transport
1.

2.

3.
1. Simple Diffusion
● Passive process – no energy input needed

● Directly through cell membrane

(phospholipid bilayer)

● Driving force: DC, concentration gradient

(Chigh – Clow)
○ thermodynamic driving force to
equalize concentration (energetically
favourable)
○ Move DOWN (or with) concentration
gradient: high conc. to low conc.

● small solutes, lipid soluble molecules (O2,

CO2, ethanol)

● Ions, large polar molecules (ie. Glucose)

require carriers (WHY?)

● Water also uses carriers (later…)

Diffusion Review: Brownian Motion
Diffusion : macroscopic effect of Brownian motion.

(1) diffusion rates are temperature-dependent;

(2) the higher the molecular density of a medium, the lower the diffusion rate;

(3) diffusion ® homogeneity;

Diffusion Review: Brownian Motion
Diffusion : macroscopic effect of Brownian motion.

(1) diffusion rates are temperature-dependent;

(2) the higher the molecular density of a medium, the lower the diffusion rate;

(3) diffusion ® homogeneity;

Bromine diffusion
https://www.sciencephoto.com
1.

2.

3.
2. Facilitated Diffusion: Why?

● Still a passive process – no energy input

needed

● Driving force: still concentration gradient

ΔC
○ For ions, could also be charge
gradient/difference, ΔV
○ For water: we call the gradient
‘osmotic pressure’

● Requires protein channels in membrane to

allow passive diffusion of these molecules
into/out of cell – why?

● Protein channels are specific to certain

molecules and their existence may vary
between cells
2. Facilitated Diffusion: Glucose Carriers

● DC in right direction but carrier to help molecule move across membrane

● e.g., glucose transporter (Glut1)
○ Note: action of insulin is key (not covered today)

● Equilibrium constant (Km) – affinity of glucose for carrier (next slide)

2. Facilitated Diffusion: Glucose Carriers
Simple (passive)
diffusion

Rate of diffusion
Concentration

● Side note: Rate of diffusion is non-linearly dependent on glucose

concentration (“Michaelis-Menten” like behaviour – discussed in
lecture 4, enzymes)
Side Note: Insulin regulates glucose
transporter
2. Facilitated Diffusion Example: Potassium
Channel
Ion channels - Move ions down chemical / electrical
gradient [may be gated or not]

● Custom fit for K+ ions [to

bind to O on helices]; others
don’t fit [e.g., Na+ is too
small]
2. Osmosis: Aquaporins
Aquaporins: tetramer of 26 kDa subunits

• Facilitated diffusion of water =

Osmosis

• Aquaporins: membrane water channels

• Widely distributed in all kingdoms of

life, including bacteria, plants, and
mammals.

• > ten different aquaporins in humans

• impaired function linked to genetic

diseases such as congenital cataracts
and diabetes

http://www.ks.uiuc.edu/Research/aquaporins/
2. Facilitated Diffusion: Osmosis

Tonicity: defined by
solute concentration in
fluid OUTSIDE of the
cell

● Water (through water channels) is more permeable than the majority of solutes –
gradient creates osmotic pressure (imbalance of solute conc. in the fluid inside vs
outside the cell)
● Hypotonic solution – water moves into cell. Hypertonic – water moves out of cell.
Changing cell shape; can burst or collapse cell
2. Facilitated Diffusion: Gated Channels

● Figure shows a ligand-gated

channel

● Also: voltage gated channels -

open at a threshold voltage

● Still facilitated diffusion: actual

movement of solute is still a
passive process down the
concentration gradient
2. Facilitated Diffusion: Ligand-Gated Channel

• The Acetylcholine
Receptor Is a Chemically
Gated Channel

• Important for muscle

contractions, among
other functions
Nerve gas (sarin)
inhibits enzyme
2. Facilitated Diffusion: Voltage-Gated
Channels

● Open channels permit K+ out of

cell and Na+ into cell; voltage
gated channels permit tuning of
rates [K is high inside cell; Na is
high outside]
● Inside cell is negative potential (-
60 mV, relative to outside) since
many K+ channels are open and
most Na+ channels are closed
2. Special Classes of Protein Channels
2. Special Cases of Facilitated Diffusion:
Co-Transport

● Still technically a passive

process - not ATP (energy)
dependent transport
(although textbook terms
these ‘active transport’)

● e.g. Na+/H+ antiporter :

exports H+ (unfavourable)
against favourable import of
antiporter Na+
uniporter symporter
2. Special Cases of Facilitated Diffusion:
Co-Transport
• Move ions / small molecules across membrane

• Uniporters: transport single type of molecule

down gradient: facilitated diffusion (e.g., Glut1)

• Antiporters/symporters: couple transport of one

species down its concentration gradient with
movement of another against its gradient: co-
transporter

• These do NOT use ATP

High • Electrochemical gradient provides energy for

Indicates direction of transport
concentration
gradient

Low
2. Special Cases of Facilitated Diffusion:
Co-Transport
• Electrochemical gradient provides energy for
transport

• Movement of one species down its

concentration gradient provides a free energy
boost to push the other against (or UP) its
concentration gradient

• Won’t go into the details in this course

• Symporter vs. antiporter

High

Indicates direction of
Key: movement of both species is obligatory -
concentration Coupled Transport
gradient

Low
2. Coupled Transport of Glucose, Sodium
● Passive diffusion of Na+ drives glucose against the concentration gradient (a symporter) [eg in
intestinal cells], from outside to inside
● Free energy cost of glucose transport is paid by free energy of sodium transport
● Symporter changes conformation to permit transporter when Na+ and glucose bind
● Gradient of Na+ is re-established by Na/K pump (left side of figure – covered later)

[low]

[high]
1.

2.

3.
3. Active Transport: Sodium-
Potassium Pump ● Active transport requires
energy input (not
energetically favourable by
nature)
● Uses ATP – moves both Na
and K against their
gradients (low conc. to high
conc.)
● Na+ is high outside cells and
K+ is high inside cells
● Cells may need to
concentrate certain
molecules inside/outside
membrane or restore certain
voltage gradients (ie. for
proper neural impulse
function)
5 minute break

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 3 Fick’s Law

https://www.meme-arsenal.com/en/create/meme/4888328
Fick’s law

● Diffusion
○ a consequence of thermal energy of molecule (ie. Brownian motion) and non
uniform distribution (conc. gradient – free energy)
○ Usually we assume stagnant medium for our calculations [no convection]
○ In biology, diffusion can occur inside a cell or across a cell membrane

● Mathematical definition: flux = flow of molecules/unit area = j

 Fick’s law

● Fick was a physician interested

in oxygen transport in blood
(Germany, ~ 1870)

● flux = flow/area = j

● Fick’s Law: use mathematics to

describe this process
dC: Chigh - Clow
dx flux = diffusivity x concentration
gradient

● concentration gradient =
concentration
difference/diffusion distance =
[dC]/[dx]

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169409X12001378
 Fick’s law ● Fick’s Law:
flux = diffusivity x concentration
gradient
● Diffusivity, D (units are cm2/s) –
a defined constant that
describes how “mobile” a
solute is – depends on the
○ solute structure
○ medium through which it
moves (or in the case of a
cell, the membrane
structure!)
● We don’t go into detail about
diffusivity in this course – it is
usually just considered a
constant
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169409X12001378
Fick’s law
Cell membrane

Cio ¶Ci
x
¶Ci ji = - D at any time point,
outside ¶x
= slope ¶x any x
inside
l
different times Cil dCi
o l ji ( x) = - D at steady state (no
Cio dx time dependence),
any x
at steady state, integrate

(Cio - Cil )
ji = D
l
DD C
ji =
Cil l
What does steady state mean for cells/diffusion across a cell membrane?
Fick’s law for membranes (simplified)
Variables and Units:
DD C
ji = 𝑗! = 𝑃Δ𝐶 • j = flux (moles/area/time)
l •Dm = diffusivity of solute in membrane (cm2/s)
• Δ𝐶 = concentration difference [moles/cm3]
•l = thickness of membrane (distance across which
diffusion occurs)
Other form of equation:
• P = membrane permeability = K x Dm [cm/s]
•K is “solubility” of solute in membrane
•l is buried within the constant ‘P’
•A – the surface area over which diffusion occurs
Fick’s law for membranes (simplified)
Variables and Units:
DD C
ji = 𝑗! = 𝑃Δ𝐶 • j = flux (moles/area/time)
l •Dm = diffusivity of solute in membrane (cm2/s)
• Δ𝐶 = concentration difference [moles/cm3]
•l = thickness of membrane (distance across which
‘Rate of diffusion’ = flux x area = PΔ𝐶A diffusion occurs)
Other form of equation:
Notes: • P = membrane permeability = K x Dm [cm/s]
• Flux (j) is rate at which the molecules diffuse per unit area! If
we don’t use a rate per unit area we get: Rate of diffusion = •K is “solubility” of solute in membrane
P*ΔC*Area
• A: area, refers to the surface area across which diffusion is •l is buried within the constant ‘P’
occurring
• P is the permeability in the case of diffusion across a •A – the surface area over which diffusion occurs
membrane
• ΔC is the concentration gradient, driving force of diffusion: ΔC
= [C]high – [C]low
Fick’s law for membranes (simplified)
DD C
ji = 𝑗! = 𝑃Δ𝐶
l

‘Rate of diffusion’ = flux x area = PΔ𝐶A

A note on Δ𝐶:
• Often we say 𝜟𝑪 = Chigh – Clow for simplicity
• Following this convention, Δ𝐶 and therefore flux or diffusion rate will generally be positive (>0)
• If we use this convention, we must be aware of which direction diffusion is occurring based on the
concentration gradient – is it INTO our OUT OF the cell?
• Some students may prefer to use 𝜟𝑪 = Cout – Cin : in this case (+) values for flux mean diffusion is
happening INTO the cell (b/c higher C outside the cell) and vice versa for (-) values
• Just be aware of the direction diffusion is moving and any +/- signs…this will influence your
comprehension of the problem or add complexity if multiple species are diffusing at the same time or in
different directions
Permeability = diffusivity x
“solubility”
Sample Problem 1 – Fick’s Law
Calculate the flux of oxygen across a cell membrane (at 37 C)
with permeability 0.53 cm/s, if the oxygen is completely
consumed when inside the cell and the water outside the cell
is completely saturated. The solubility of oxygen in water at
37 C is 3.082 x10-3 g oxygen/100 g water.
Sample Problem 1 – Fick’s Law
Calculate the flux of oxygen across a cell membrane (at 37 C)
with permeability 0.53 cm/s, if the oxygen is completely
consumed when inside the cell and the water outside the cell
is completely saturated. The solubility of oxygen in water at
37 C is 3.082 x10-3 g oxygen/100 g water.
Sample Problem 1 – Fick’s Law

j
Ci
Oxygen, C0
Sample Problem 1 – Fick’s Law

j
Ci
Oxygen, C0
61

Sample Problem 2 – Fick’s Law

The cells in our body need glucose (sourced from the food we eat) to carry out
metabolic reactions that produce the energy they need to function (ie. ‘cellular
respiration’). Glucose must leave the bloodstream and enter the cell through the cell
membrane before cellular respiration can occur inside a cell. Glucose is consumed as
soon as it enters the cell. Hence the rate of glucose transport across the cell
membrane determines the rate of glucose consumption and thereby also the viability
of the cell (ie. if the cell can survive or not). To be completely healthy, a typical cell[1]
needs to consume glucose at a rate of 4.8 x 10-6 mg/second/mL of cell volume.
First, let’s assume that glucose ONLY passes through the cell membrane via simple
diffusion. The “diffusion coefficient” of glucose across a cell membrane is 0.4 x 10-16
cm2/s and the cell membrane is 10 nm thick. The glucose concentration outside the
cell is 1 mg/mL. It is reasonable to assume that the concentration inside the cell is 0
[why?].
What is wrong with this scenario?

[1] Note different cells consume nutrients at different rates depending on their metabolic needs. For
example, metabolically very active hepatocytes (liver cells) consume glucose at a rate which is
much higher than more quiescent cells such as fibroblasts. The above glucose rate was estimated
from the oxygen consumption rate of pancreatic islets (Endocrinology, 1982, 111, 1595-1600).
62

Sample Problem 2 – Fick’s Law

The cells in our body need glucose (sourced from the food we eat) to carry out
metabolic reactions that produce the energy they need to function (ie. ‘cellular
respiration’). Glucose must leave the bloodstream and enter the cell through the cell
membrane before cellular respiration can occur inside a cell. Glucose is consumed as
soon as it enters the cell. Hence the rate of glucose transport across the cell
membrane determines the rate of glucose consumption and thereby also the viability
of the cell (ie. if the cell can survive or not). To be completely healthy, a typical cell[1]
needs to consume glucose at a rate of 4.8 x 10-6 mg/second/mL of cell volume.
First, let’s assume that glucose ONLY passes through the cell membrane via simple
diffusion. The “diffusion coefficient” of glucose across a cell membrane is 0.4 x 10-16
cm2/s and the cell membrane is 10 nm thick. The glucose concentration outside the
cell is 1 mg/mL. It is reasonable to assume that the concentration inside the cell is 0
[why?].
What is wrong with this scenario?
63

Sample Problem 2 – Fick’s Law

The cells in our body need glucose (sourced from the food we eat) to carry out
metabolic reactions that produce the energy they need to function (ie. ‘cellular
respiration’). Glucose must leave the bloodstream and enter the cell through the cell
membrane before cellular respiration can occur inside a cell. Glucose is consumed as
soon as it enters the cell. Hence the rate of glucose transport across the cell
membrane determines the rate of glucose consumption and thereby also the viability
of the cell (ie. if the cell can survive or not). To be completely healthy, a typical cell[1]
needs to consume glucose at a rate of 4.8 x 10-6 mg/second/mL of cell volume.
First, let’s assume that glucose ONLY passes through the cell membrane via simple
diffusion. The “diffusion coefficient” of glucose across a cell membrane is 0.4 x 10-16
cm2/s and the cell membrane is 10 nm thick. The glucose concentration outside the
cell is 1 mg/mL. It is reasonable to assume that the concentration inside the cell is 0
[why?].
What is wrong with this scenario?
 Note on ‘Steady State’
No change over time:
Consumptio steady state
n of nutrient
within cell

Diffusion
distributed over
whole surface

At steady state: Rate of diffusion in = rate of consumption

This means molecules are entering the cell exactly at the
rate at which they are being used up by the cell!
PDC x area = rate of consumption per unit volume x volume
DC = outside C – inside C
 Note on ‘Steady State’
No change over time:
Consumptio steady state
n of nutrient
within cell

Diffusion In this problem, the

distributed over rate of glucose
whole surface
entering the cell
must at minimum
At steady state: Rate of diffusion in = rate of consumption meet the rate that
This means molecules are entering the cell exactly at the cells consume
rate at which they are being used up by the cell! glucose to ensure
PDC x area = rate of consumption per unit volume x volume cells have the
DC = outside C – inside C nutrients they need
to survive!
 Note on ‘Steady State’
No change over time:
Consumptio steady state
n of nutrient
within cell

Diffusion In this problem, the

distributed over rate of glucose
whole surface
entering the cell
must at minimum
At steady state: Rate of diffusion in = rate of consumption meet the rate that
This means molecules are entering the cell exactly at the cells consume
rate at which they are being used up by the cell! glucose to ensure
PDC x area = rate of consumption per unit volume x volume cells have the
DC = outside C – inside C nutrients they need
to survive!
67

Sample Problem 2 – Fick’s Law

The cells in our body need glucose (sourced from the food we eat) to carry out
metabolic reactions that produce the energy they need to function (ie. ‘cellular
respiration’). Glucose must leave the bloodstream and enter the cell through the cell
membrane before cellular respiration can occur inside a cell. Glucose is consumed as
soon as it enters the cell. Hence the rate of glucose transport across the cell
membrane determines the rate of glucose consumption and thereby also the viability
of the cell (ie. if the cell can survive or not). To be completely healthy, a typical cell[1]
needs to consume glucose at a rate of 4.8 x 10-6 mg/second/mL of cell volume.
First, let’s assume that glucose ONLY passes through the cell membrane via simple
diffusion. The “diffusion coefficient” of glucose across a cell membrane is 0.4 x 10-16
cm2/s and the cell membrane is 10 nm thick. The glucose concentration outside the
cell is 1 mg/mL. It is reasonable to assume that the concentration inside the cell is 0
[why?].
What is wrong with this scenario?
68
Sample Problem 2 – Fick’s Law
69
Sample Problem 2 – Fick’s Law
70
Sample Problem 2 – Fick’s Law
71
Sample Problem 2 – Fick’s Law
72
Sample Problem 2 – Fick’s Law
73
Sample Problem 2 – Fick’s Law
74
Sample Problem 2 – Fick’s Law
Diffusion Resistance
Diffusion equations have some similarity with electrical equations!

● Electricity: V = IR or I = V/R or I = gV (where g = conductance)

○ V – voltage; analogous to conc. gradient, ΔC
○ I – current; analogous to mass flux, J
○ R – resistance…
● Diffusion - rearranging the equation: J = PΔC or J = ΔC/(1/P) where
1/P = diffusion resistance ‘R’
○ 1/P is analogous to R in the electricity equation
● What does this actually mean?
Diffusion Resistance
● Membranes provide resistance to mass flow
● “diffusion resistance” = 1/P
● If a molecule encounters several membranes in series, we can sum ‘resistors’
(just like Kirchoff’s law for electrical circuits) to describe overall mass flow

R2=1/P2 R1=1/P1
Diffusion Resistance
● Membranes provide resistance to mass flow
● “diffusion resistance” = 1/P
● If a molecule encounters several membranes in series, we can sum ‘resistors’
(just like Kirchoff’s law for electrical circuits) to describe overall mass flow
Ex. Each membrane will have a given P
value (permeability) for diffusion of blue R2=1/P2 R1=1/P1
dots through (ONLY applies to the blue
dots, not green! Green dots will have
different permeability through the
membranes!)

The value of 1/P is referred to as the

“diffusion resisitance”

A summation of resistances can describe

the full diffusion of blue dots from the far
right to the far left
Diffusion Resistance
● Membranes provide resistance to mass flow
● “diffusion resistance” = 1/P
● If a molecule encounters several membranes in series, we can sum ‘resistors’
(just like Kirchoff’s law for electrical circuits) to describe overall mass flow
Ex. Each membrane will have a given P
value (permeability) for diffusion of blue R2=1/P2 R1=1/P1
Rtotal = R1 + R2
dots through (ONLY applies to the blue
dots, not green! Green dots will have
different permeability through the
membranes!)

The value of 1/P is referred to as the

“diffusion resisitance”

A summation of resistances can describe

the full diffusion of blue dots from the far
right to the far left
Diffusion Resistance - Equations
R = 1/P
Rtotal = R1 + R2

J = PΔC = ΔC/(Rtotal)

R2=1/P2 R1=1/P1
Diffusion Resistance – Practice Problem

A composite membrane consists of two membranes

laminated together. The permeability of one layer (teflon)
to carbon dioxide is 300 mL/min m2 atm (STP); the
permeability of the second layer (silicone rubber) is 1600
mL/min m2 atm (STP); What membrane area is needed to
remove 200 mL/hr [8.9 x 10-3 moles/hr] of CO2 with a
constant partial pressure difference of 5 mmHg.
Diffusion Resistance – Practice Problem

A composite membrane consists of two membranes

laminated together. The permeability of one layer (teflon)
to carbon dioxide is 300 mL/min m2 atm (STP); the
permeability of the second layer (silicone rubber) is 1600
mL/min m2 atm (STP); What membrane area is needed to
remove 200 mL/hr [8.9 x 10-3 moles/hr] of CO2 with a
constant partial pressure difference of 5 mmHg.
Diffusion Resistance – Practice Problem
Diffusion Resistance – Practice Problem
Diffusion Resistance – Practice Problem
Unsteady state diffusion: Time constant
● Not covered mathematically in this course, just conceptually
● In the real world, the concentrations inside and outside cell may
not be constant over time
● t = time constant
● reflects the rate of change - higher t means slower rate
-t 2
output = f (e t
) For diffusion : t µ l or t µ l
P Deff
-t
e.g., change = maximum change (1 - e t
)
Change
in voltage Voltage changes instantly, but current follows
I more slowly; change has exponential time
dependence [same for instant change in Co and
slower change in Ci]
time
Steady state vs transient (unsteady state)
● Steady state ● Transient (unsteady state)
○ E.g., step change in outside
○ concentrations (flux) are concentration at t =0
constant over time
● When does inside
○ J = P∆C concentration change?
○ t = time constant
-t
e.g., change = maximum change (1 - e t
) ○ reflects the rate of change -
higher t means slower rate
Chang
Ci e in Co
2
For diffusion : t µ l or t µ l
P Deff
time
Time constants
Diffusivity (cm2/s) “length” (𝒍) Time constant (t)
10-5 1 cm 105 s ~ 27 hr
10-8 1 cm 108 s ~ 3 years

10-5 100 µm 10-3 s

10-8 100 µm 1s
10-10 100 µm 100 s

2
For diffusion : t µ l or t µ l
P Deff

Why are cells in most types of organisms typically very small?

Questions or
Feedback?
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