Chapter 3: Movement of Substances Across Plasma Membrane
What you need to learn in this chapter
In this chapter, we will learn about the movement of substances across the plasma membrane. We will start by understanding the structure of the plasma membrane and its components based on the fluid mosaic model. We will also discuss why it is necessary for substances to move across the membrane. Next, we will explore the concept of movement across the plasma membrane. We will learn about the characteristics of substances that can move across the membrane, such as size, polarity, and ionic charge. We will also conduct experiments using Visking tubing and a simple osmometer to study the movement of substances across a selectively permeable membrane. Moving on, we will examine how substances move across the plasma membrane in living organisms. We will discuss passive transport, where substances move from an area of high concentration to a low concentration without the use of energy. We will also explore active transport, where substances move against the concentration gradient with the use of energy. Lastly, we will look at the application of movement across the plasma membrane in daily life. We will conduct an experiment to determine the concentration of cell sap in plant tissue and correlate it with the phenomenon of plant wilting. This chapter will provide us with a deeper understanding of how substances move across the plasma membrane and its significance in living organisms and everyday life.
Topics in this chapter
1. Structure of Plasma Membrane
What you will learn in this topic
- Justify the necessity of movement of substances across a plasma membrane
- Describe the components of plasma membrane and its function based on the fluid mosaic model
- Draw and label the components of a plasma membrane based on the fluid mosaic model
- Describe the permeability of a plasma membrane
2. Concept of Movement of Substances Across a Plasma Membrane
What you will learn in this topic
- State the characteristics of substances that are able to move across a plasma membrane in these aspects: (i) size of molecules, (ii) polarity of molecules. (iii) ionic charge
- Conduct experiments to study the movement of substances across a selectively permeable membrane by using: (i) Visking tubing, (ii) simple osmometer
- Describe by using examples movement of substances across a plasma membrane: (i) passive transport, (ii) active transport
- Compare and contrast passive transport and active transport
3. Movement of Substances Across a Plasma Membrane in Living Organisms
What you will learn in this topic
- Explain by using examples the process of passive transport in organisms
- Explain by using examples the process of active transport in organisms
- Define the: (i) hypotonic solution, (ii) hypertonic solution, (iii) isotonic solution
- Design an experiment to study the effects of different concentrations of solution on animal and plant cells
- Communicate about the effect of hypotonic, hypertonic and isotonic solutions on cell based on the movement of water molecules: (i) animal cell, (ii) plant cell
4. Movement of Substances Across a Plasma Membrane and its Application in Daily Life
What you will learn in this topic
- Conduct an experiment to determine the concentration of cell sap of a plant tissue
- Correlate the concentration of cell sap in a plant tissue with the phenomenon of plant wilting
- Explain by using examples the application of the concept of movement of substances across a plasma membrane in daily life
- Communicate about reverse osmosis in water purification
Live Tuition Recordings
Assess yourself by staged practices
Learn more »