Cells and Its Environment Ss1 Note

Cells And Its Environment
DIFFUSION
Diffusion is the movement of ions, particles or molecules from a region of higher concentration to a
region of lower concentration. This process occurs in both liquid and gaseous substances. It is
important to note that diffusion would cease if there is no difference in the concentration of the
particles in both regions. In other words, there is equilibrium. The difference in concentration is
known as concentration / diffusion gradient.
Factors affecting rate of diffusion

State of matter: Diffusion is fastest in gas and slowest in solid
Gas Liquid Solid
Increasing rate of diffusion
· Size of particle: Smaller particles diffuse faster than the larger particles
· Temperature: Temperature increases kinetic energy of gas hence increases diffusion
· Diffusion gradient: Variation in concentration affects diffusion of gas. Diffusion moves the
molecule from higher concentration to lower concentration

Biological significance of diffusion
1. Movement of gases in and out of the stomata during gaseous

exchange or photosynthesis.
2. Movement of water vapour out of the leaves during transpiration.
3. Exchange of nutrients and materials between maternal and foetal
blood vessels in the placenta.
4. Movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide from the alveoli to the
capillaries in the lungs.
5. Gaseous exchange during respiration in unicellular organisms.
OSMOSIS
Osmosis is defined as the movement of water molecules from a region
of higher concentration of water molecules to a region of lower
concentration through a semi permeable membrane.

The basic principles can be further illustrated if two solutions of different
concentration are placed on either side of a semi permeable. Examples
include: cell membrane found in every cell of plants and animals but in the
laboratory purposes cellophane paper, pig’s bladder, visking tube, pawpaw,
yam and potato. It will be observed that the movement of water molecules,
like the case of diffusion would only continue as long as the difference in
concentration of water exists.
Types of Cell Environment
In using living cells as osmometer, a solution can have a higher concentration
than the cell sap , lower concentration or the same conc as the cell.
i. Hypertonic : This is a solution that has higher concentration than the cell
sap and when a plant cell is placed in it shrinks: becoming flaccid/ limp.
When an animal cell is placed in it, the cell becomes plasmolysed losing all it
water.
ii. Hypotonic solution: This is a solution that has a lower concentration than the cell sap.
And when a plant cell is placed in it, it becomes rounded and rigid: Turgid. When an
animal cell is placed in it, it swells to full capacity bursting open and spilling all the cell
content. In red blood cell it is known as haemolysis.
iii. Isotonic solution: This is a A solution that has equal concentration as the cell sap. And
when a cell is placed in it whether plant or animal, there is no movement of water as
equilibrium is already established.
Biological Significance of osmosis

1. In plants, osmosis helps in absorption of water from the soil into root hairs.
2. It helps in the movement of water molecules from the root hairs to the cortex.
3. It helps in the opening and closing of the stomata.
4. It gives turgidity to the plant cell.
5. It regulates the amount of water in the animal cell.
Differences Between Diffusion And Osmosis
Diffusion Osmosis
Diffusion occurs in gases and liquid Osmosis occurs in liquid medium only
Differentially permeable membrane is not Differentially permeable membrane is

required required
It occurs in living and non-living organisms It occurs naturally in living organisms
Important Terminologies
i. Plasmolysis: Plasmolysis is a typical response of plant cells exposed to
hyperosmotic stress. The loss of turgor causes the violent detachment of the
living protoplast from the cell wall
i. Haemolysis: Haemolysis is defined as the process by which red
blood cells or corpuscles become split or burst as a result of too
much water passing through it.
ii. Turgidity: Turgidity : is defined as the condition in which cell is fully

stretched especially due to high fluid content. In a general
turgidity is useful to plant because it makes them stand erect, gives
to stem, leaves and guard cells
iii. Flaccidity: Flaccidity is defined as the condition in which plants lose
water to their surrounding faster than they can absorb. This
mostly occurs during drought. When the water loss in plant is not
commensurate to water uptake, this leads to wilting
ACTIVE TRANSPORT
This is the movement of ions from a region of lower concentration to a
region of higher concentration against the concentration gradient. This
process thus requires a lot of energy by respiration in form of Adenosine
triphosphate.

Examples of Active Transport In Plants And Animals
Some examples of active transport include:
i. the uptake of glucose in the intestine of the human body
ii. the uptake of minerals or ions into the root hair cells of plants.
iii. Movement of Ca2+ ions out of cardiac muscle cells.
iv. Secretion of proteins like enzymes, peptide hormones, and
antibodies from different cells.
v. Na+ is actively kept at low concentrations inside the cell and high
concentrations outside the cell.
Cells carrying out active transport have:
vi. Numerous mitochondria
vii. A high concentration of ATP (immediate energy store)
viii. A high cellular respiratory rate.
Endocytosis And Exocytosis
Endocytosis: Ingestion of large particles (such as bacteria) and the
uptake of fluids or macromolecules in small vesicles is called
endocytosis
Exocytosis: Exocytosis is the fusion of secretory vesicles with the

plasma membrane and results in the discharge of vesicle content
into the extracellular space
Class Work:
i. The diagram shows water and sugar molecules on either side of a
partially permeable membrane
What happens during osmosis?
A More sugar molecules pass through the membrane from X to Y than
from Y to X.
B More sugar molecules pass through the membrane from Y to X than
from X to Y.
C More water molecules pass through the membrane from X to Y than
from Y to X.
D More water molecules pass through the membrane from Y to X than
from X to Y.
2. Which diagram shows the changes in appearance of a plant cell when

it remains in a concentrated sugar solution for thirty minutes?
3. A student cuts out four pieces of carrot root of equal size. The pieces
are treated as shown in the
diagram, and then left for two hours. After two hours, which piece of
carrot will be the smallest?
4. The diagram shows an experiment set up to investigate osmosis in

living cells.
What happens to the volumes of water (X) and sugar solution (Y) after
12 hours?
5. The diagram shows the movement of a concentrated sugar solution

up a glass tube. The glass tube is connected firmly to a hollowed-out
carrot.
Why does the sugar solution in the glass tube rise?
A Sugar molecules move across the carrot tissue into the glass tube.
B Sugar molecules move across the carrot tissue into the beaker.
C. Water molecules move across the carrot tissue into the glass tube.
D Water molecules move across the carrot tissue into the beaker.

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Cells And Its Environment

Factors affecting rate of diffusion

1. Movement of gases in and out of the stomata during gaseous

Biological Significance of osmosis

Differentially permeable membrane is not Differentially permeable membrane is

It occurs in living and non-living organisms It occurs naturally in living organisms

ii. Turgidity: Turgidity : is defined as the condition in which cell is fully

Exocytosis: Exocytosis is the fusion of secretory vesicles with the

2. Which diagram shows the changes in appearance of a plant cell when

4. The diagram shows an experiment set up to investigate osmosis in

5. The diagram shows the movement of a concentrated sugar solution

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