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Cell Membranes - Diffusion and Osmosis


            Cell membrane is the partially permeable membrane which means only certain molecules can pass through the membrane. Small and non-polar molecules can pass through easily while larger molecules & polar molecules can pass through the vesicles. Cell membrane is made up of phospholipid bilayer and is amphipathic-hydrophilic & hydrophobic areas. The hydrophobic regions avoid contact with water and are located inside and hydrophilic regions have affinity for water and are located inside. The purpose of cell membrane is to determine what goes in the cell and out of the cell.
             Diffusion is passive transport and is very essential process through which materials move from one place to another. It plays a significant role in biology, chemistry, physics, and in nearly every single part of our life. Diffusion is a result of the continuous thermal motion of atoms and particles and therefore goes from a high concentration gradient to a low concentration gradient. The finishing point of diffusion would be an equal concentration of particles on each side. Diffusion mostly takes place in gas molecules and in liquid molecules. The molecules of gases are in relentless motion and collide with the membrane and if the membrane is detached the gases will combine. .
             Diffusion is a spontaneous process and it is very important to generate energy and create other essential nutrients. Some examples of diffusion are perfume and air fresheners where the gas molecules diffuse from the bottle where there is high concentration into the air spreading the smell (molecules) where there is less concentration. Three main types of diffusion are simple, channel, and facilitated. Simple diffusion involves the transport of non-polar and hydrophobic molecules to the hydrophobic regions of the membrane without getting disallowed. Hydrophilic molecules cannot travel through the membrane because membrane will reject it. Through channel diffusion, channels made up of protein help move the materials through pores and regulates ions and charged molecules through these pores.


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