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Q: Why can oxygen easily cross the plasma membrane but sodium ions are unable to cross the plasma membrane?
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What particles could diffuse easily through a cell membrane sodium and oxygen?

Oxygen (O2)


What regulates which substances enter and leave a cell?

The plasma membrane. Carrier proteins and ion channels are parts of the plasma membrane, and aid in diffusion across concentration gradients, as most things don't freely move from one end of the cell membrane to the other. The Sodium-Potassium pump is a major ion channel in the plasma membrane, and regulates the intake of potassium and export of sodium (3 molecules sodium out, 2 molecules potassium in.)


How does nutrients cross plasma membrane?

Things like oxygen, CO2 and lipids cross the membrane with simple diffusion. Water can cross the membrane with osmosis when the water moves through a channel protein in the plasma membrane. Glucose, potassium, sodium etc. moves through a carrier protein in the membrane with the process of active movement. In the process of active movement energy is needed and it is given by the glucose or ATP from the cell.


Why do most substances have to be assisted through the plasma membrane?

The plasma membrane is made from tightlypack phospholipids. The plasma membrane prevents polar molecules and large molecules from diffusing freely. Fatty (lipophilic) molecules can easily pass through. since cells often need water soluble materials such as water and sugars, transporters and pores need to be made out of proteins to let those molecules through. One of the most important pumps is the Na+/K+ ATPase pump which maintains gradients of sodium and potassium across the cell membrane


Ions cannot cross back and forth across the neuron cell membrane?

Water diffuses across the plasma membrane, and this can affect cell size and .... proceeds, the different type cells of the embryo develop their ... or ion so that it can cross the plasma .... molecules cannot cross the membrane because they are un- able to ... plasma membrane and the back and forth arrows indicate that these.


What type of channel does sodium and potassium use to diffuse across the plasma membrane of all cells?

voltage type of channel


What particle can penetrate cell membrane easily?

particles that are small and hydrophobic and semipermeable. hydrophobic ions those that are soluble in lipids-- can easily pass through the membrane. In addition, small molecules like O2can sneak between the phospholipids of the membrane. On the other hand, hydrophilic molecules (like water and glucose) and ions (such as sodium ions and hydrogen ions) cannot pass directly through the phospholipids of the plasma membrane.


Why shouldn't sodium be kept open to the air?

Sodium is very reactive and easily react with oxygen or water.


What are three materials that move through a cell membrane?

Sodium, potassium and calcium are the three things that move through the plasma membrane. There are many other molecules and ions that do move through cell membrane. Plasma membrane have a selective permeable property.


Why is the plasma membrane more permeable to potassium ions than sodium ions?

Some substances, including sodium and potassium, use a process called active transport to permeate cell walls. Active transport is controlled by other body systems. It limits the quantity of these substances passing through the plasma membrane to match the needs of the body.


What structure does oxygen diffuses through but a sodium ion may need active transport?

A semipermeable membrane


What structure does oxygen diffuse through that a sodium ion may need active transport?

A semipermeable membrane