What is diffusion and what are its characteristics?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for an explanation of diffusion, highlighting its definition, nature as a passive process, examples, and factors affecting diffusion.
Answer
Diffusion is passive transport from high to low concentration, influenced by gradient, temperature, and molecule size.
Diffusion is the passive movement of molecules from areas of higher concentration to lower concentration until equilibrium is reached. It does not require energy. Factors affecting diffusion include concentration gradient, temperature, and molecule size. Examples include oxygen entering cells and nutrients dispersing.
Answer for screen readers
Diffusion is the passive movement of molecules from areas of higher concentration to lower concentration until equilibrium is reached. It does not require energy. Factors affecting diffusion include concentration gradient, temperature, and molecule size. Examples include oxygen entering cells and nutrients dispersing.
More Information
Diffusion is critical in biological processes, enabling vital substances like oxygen to move across cell membranes without energy input. The speed of diffusion can impact metabolic rates and cellular function.
Tips
A common mistake is to assume diffusion requires energy. It's a passive process driven by natural molecular movement.
Sources
- Diffusion - Britannica - britannica.com
- Simple diffusion and passive transport - Khan Academy - khanacademy.org
- Diffusion - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
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