Diffusion is not a substance. It is a physical process. Diffusion is the process where there is a movement of molecules from where they are abundant to where they are scarce. A more technical definition would be: Diffusion is a process in which molecules move from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration.
Chat with our AI personalities
Diffusion can involve both small and large molecules. The rate of diffusion is influenced by factors like the size of the molecules, temperature, and concentration gradient. Smaller molecules generally diffuse more quickly than larger molecules.
Simple sugars are made up of monosaccharide molecules, which are the most basic units of carbohydrates. Monosaccharides consist of a single sugar molecule that cannot be broken down into smaller units by hydrolysis. Examples of monosaccharides include glucose, fructose, and galactose.
In animals, gas exchanges are primarily made by diffusion across respiratory surfaces such as the lungs or gills. This is where oxygen enters the bloodstream and carbon dioxide exits. In plants, gas exchange primarily occurs through small openings called stomata on the leaves.
Polymers are substances that have large molecules made up of repeating units called monomers. Examples include plastics, DNA, proteins, and carbohydrates.
Ligand-gated channels are proteins that open in response to specific molecules, called ligands, binding to them. When these channels open, they allow certain ions or molecules to pass through the cell membrane, facilitating the process of facilitated diffusion. This means that the movement of these ions or molecules across the membrane is made easier and faster, helping maintain the balance of substances inside and outside the cell.
Small hydrophobic molecules can cross the cell membrane easily because the membrane is made up of a lipid bilayer that repels water but allows non-polar molecules, like hydrophobic ones, to pass through.