0
What else can I help you with?
Can small hydrophobic molecules cross the cell membrane?
Yes, small hydrophobic molecules can cross the cell membrane.
Can small polar molecules cross the cell membrane?
Yes, small polar molecules can cross the cell membrane through a process called passive diffusion.
What gives water the ability to cross the hydrophobic region of a cell membrane when other small polar molecules and ions cannot?
Water is able to cross the hydrophobic region of a cell membrane through specialized protein channels called aquaporins. These channels facilitate the movement of water molecules while preventing the passage of other small polar molecules and ions. Aquaporins selectively allow water to pass through the membrane, maintaining cell homeostasis by regulating water balance.
Why do small nonpolar molecules cross a membrane?
Small nonpolar molecules can cross a membrane easily because they are able to pass through the lipid bilayer of the membrane due to their size and lack of charge, allowing them to move freely across the membrane.
What kind of molecules can easily pass through a cell membrane?
Small, Non-polar molecules. If the molecule is polar, it sticks to both sides of the membrane, and has to go through selective routes. The easiest to get through is the Non-polar (oxygen and carbon).
Can small hydrophobic molecules cross the cell membrane?
Yes, small hydrophobic molecules can cross the cell membrane.
What materials crossed the membrane and why did they cross?
Materials that can cross the cell membrane include small non-polar molecules like oxygen and carbon dioxide, as well as small polar molecules like water. These molecules can freely pass through the lipid bilayer of the membrane due to their small size and compatibility with the hydrophobic environment of the lipid tails. However, larger molecules and charged ions require specific protein channels or transporters to cross the membrane.
Explain how hydrophobic molecules cross cell membranes?
cell membranes are made of a lipid bilayer, molecules with hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails. These molecules arrange in parallel lines with the tails facing inwards towards each other and the heads facing outwards towards the water. Hydrophobic molecules are drawn into the lipid bilayer, trying to get away from the water.
Can small polar molecules cross the cell membrane?
Yes, small polar molecules can cross the cell membrane through a process called passive diffusion.
What gives water the ability to cross the hydrophobic region of a cell membrane when other small polar molecules and ions cannot?
Water is able to cross the hydrophobic region of a cell membrane through specialized protein channels called aquaporins. These channels facilitate the movement of water molecules while preventing the passage of other small polar molecules and ions. Aquaporins selectively allow water to pass through the membrane, maintaining cell homeostasis by regulating water balance.
Where exactly in the membrane do small nonpolar and small polar molecules pass through?
Small nonpolar molecules pass through the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane primarily through simple diffusion, as they can easily dissolve in the hydrophobic core of the membrane. In contrast, small polar molecules typically require specific transport proteins, such as channels or carriers, because their polarity prevents them from easily crossing the hydrophobic interior of the membrane. While some small polar molecules can pass through the membrane via facilitated diffusion, it is generally more challenging compared to nonpolar molecules.
Why do small nonpolar molecules cross a membrane?
Small nonpolar molecules can cross a membrane easily because they are able to pass through the lipid bilayer of the membrane due to their size and lack of charge, allowing them to move freely across the membrane.
What types of molecules get through the membreane with passive transport?
Small, non-polar molecules like oxygen and carbon dioxide can pass through the cell membrane via passive transport. Additionally, some small polar molecules like water can also use passive transport mechanisms such as facilitated diffusion to cross the membrane.
What kind of molecules can easily pass through a cell membrane?
Small, Non-polar molecules. If the molecule is polar, it sticks to both sides of the membrane, and has to go through selective routes. The easiest to get through is the Non-polar (oxygen and carbon).
What compound can pass freely through a plasma membrane?
Small, nonpolar molecules such as oxygen and carbon dioxide can pass freely through a plasma membrane. These molecules can diffuse directly through the lipid bilayer due to their size and hydrophobic nature. Additionally, small uncharged polar molecules like water can also cross the membrane, albeit at a slower rate, often facilitated by specific channels.
Why can oxygen easily cross the plasma membrane but sodium ions are unable to cross the plasma membrane?
Oxygen is a small, nonpolar molecule that can cross the plasma membrane via simple diffusion. Sodium ions, on the other hand, are charged and larger molecules that cannot easily pass through the hydrophobic interior of the plasma membrane. Sodium must rely on specific transport proteins like ion channels or pumps to cross the membrane.
What are the properties of solutes that can cross a membrane by simple diffusion?
Solutes that can cross a membrane by simple diffusion are typically small, nonpolar molecules or lipid-soluble molecules. These solutes can move freely across the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane without the need for a protein channel or transporter. Examples include gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide, as well as small hydrophobic molecules.
