What is the difference between a semi-permeable and a partially permeable membrane?

Answer 1

An impermeable membrane is that through which no substance can pass. Semipermeable membranes are those that let only solvents, like water, to pass through it. Permeable membranes are those that let solvent and solutes, like ions and molecules, to pass across it. There are also selectively permeable membranes, i.e., membranes that besides allowing the passage of solvent, let only some specific solutes to pass while blocking others.

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Answer 2

There is no real difference other than the wording; both semi-permeable and partially-permeable mean the ability to allow some substances to pass.

However, OCR examiners for AS Biology have said that you should "not use the term semi-permeable when referring to cell membranes that allow water and other solutes to cross them" but should "refer to them as partially permeable."

Answer 3

A semi-permeable membrane allows only certain molecules or ions to pass through, based on their size or charge. A partially permeable membrane has limited permeability to certain substances but is not as selective as a semi-permeable membrane. Overall, the distinction is nuanced and the two terms are often used interchangeably.

Answer 4

the main difference is that impermeable doesn`t allow transfer of materials accross them at all but semi permeable allows few molecules for example by osmosis

Answer 5

A permeable membrane allows any gas or solution to pass through it. A semipermeable membrane is only permeable to specific gases and solutions.

Answer 6

Selectively permeable membranes allows some things into the cell, while certain things are kept out. While freely permeable membranes allow everything to enter the cell.

Answer 7

It doesn't - they are different terms for the same thing.

Answer 8

selective permeable is some thing that controls what goes and want comes out

and freely permeable just lets everything to pass through

Answer 9

it does this and that beacuae