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Factors Affecting the Rate of Movement of Substances (Edexcel IGCSE Biology)
Revision Note
Factors that Influence Diffusion
Surface area to volume ratio
- The bigger a cell or structure is, the smaller its surface area to volume ratio is, slowing down the rate at which substances can move across its surface
- Many cells which are adapted for diffusion have increased surface area in some way - e.g. root hair cells in plants (which absorb water and mineral ions) and cells lining the ileum in animals (which absorb the products of digestion)
Cell adaptations for diffusion
The highly folded surface of the small intestine increases its surface area
- You should be able to calculate and compare surface area to volume ratios
- You can model the effect of how increasing size affects surface area to volume ratio using simple cubes:
Calculating the surface area to volume ratio
Diffusion distance
- The smaller the distance molecules have to travel the faster transport will occur
- This is why blood capillaries and alveoli have walls which are only one cell thick, ensure the rate of diffusion across them is as fast as possible
Temperature
- The higher the temperature, the faster molecules move as they have more energy
- This results in more collisions against the cell membrane and therefore a faster rate of movement across them
Concentration gradient
- The greater the difference in concentration on either side of the membrane, the faster movement across it will occur
- This is because on the side with the higher concentration, more random collisions against the membrane will occur
Summary of Diffusion Factors Table
Factor | How it affects diffusion |
Concentration gradient |
The greater the difference in concentration between two regions, the faster the overall rate of diffusion |
Temperature |
The higher the temperature, the more kinetic (movement) energy the particles of that substance will have They will move/spread faster, compared to at a lower temperature when they have less kinetic energy |
Surface area |
A membrane with a greater surface area will have a greater rate of diffusion across it |
Examiner Tip
You should have carried out investigations into the factors that influence the rate of diffusion and as so should be able to use the information above to explain experimental results in an exam. You should also be able to plan and carry out an experiment which can investigate the effect of one of these factors.
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