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The structure of cell membrane allows nonpolar molecules to diffuse, but not polar molecules. Membrane architecture is in the form of a phospholipid bilayer. A single phospholipid has a "head" composed of a polar NH3 group, and two "tails" composed of nonpolar fatty acids. The lipids spontaneously arrange themselves into bilayers with the hydrophilic heads directed outward, and the hydrophobic tails facing inward. Because nonpolar solvents can only dissolve nonpolar solutes, polar molecules cannot mix with the nonpolar inside of the lipid bilayer. A polar molecule cannot cross the cell's lipid membrane without aid from a carrier protein. While this is true, there are multiple forces that dictate whether or not a molecule can cross a phospholipid membrane, including electrochemical gradients and size. Very small and non-polar molecules have a very easy time crossing the phospholipid bilayer. However, very small, polar molecules like water can also cross the phospholipid bilayer due to hydrostatic pressure and concentration gradient differences. Water will, but with some difficulty because of it's polarity. Aquaporins, protein channels embedded into cellular membranes allow for sufficient amounts of water to diffuse into cells.

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What ships products to plasma membrane or outside or other organelles?

The endoplasmic reticulum packages and ships products to the plasma membrane, outside the cell, or to other organelles through vesicles. These vesicles bud off from the endoplasmic reticulum and travel to their destination to deliver their cargo.


What is the structure of plasma membrane?

The main structure of the plasma membrane is composed of the phospholipid bilayer. The phospholipid bilayer is composed of a spherical hypertonic head & a straight hypotonic tail which is designed to prevent the flow of unauthorized molecules & to maintain control of what enters & exits the cell. In order for a molecule to pass through, it must use one of multiple different methods of molecular transportation. The most common is the use of channel proteins. The molecule will travel through the channel protein based on its size & polarity-polar or non-polar.


What part of the cell acts like a selective filter and determines what goes in and out of the cell?

The plasma membrane is selectively permeable, allowing certain molecules to travel in and out of the cell. The size, PH, and temperature all play a factor in what molecules travel through the membrane or don't.


Can a certain substance pass across the cell membrane?

Also small molecules.Basically because the cell membrane is amphipathic; a polar head and non-polar tails make up the double layered membrane with non-polar tails sticking inward and polar heads outward. This means that the non-polar middle, the lipid part, does not allow hydrophyllic substances to pass easily through the membrane while non-polar substances can pass through easily. Having to do with charge and solubility.


Can light pass through plasma?

Yes, light can pass through plasma, but its transmission depends on the plasma's density and temperature. In low-density plasmas, such as those found in certain astrophysical contexts, light can travel relatively unimpeded. However, in high-density plasmas, like those in fusion reactors, the interaction with charged particles can scatter or absorb the light, making it difficult for it to pass through. Overall, the behavior of light in plasma is complex and influenced by various factors, including the plasma's ionization levels.

Related Questions

How would a non polar molecule such as a fat or oil travel through the plasma membrane?

The inside of a membrane is "hydrophobic" because of the hydrophobic fatty acid tails of the phospholipids.


What ships products to plasma membrane or outside or other organelles?

The endoplasmic reticulum packages and ships products to the plasma membrane, outside the cell, or to other organelles through vesicles. These vesicles bud off from the endoplasmic reticulum and travel to their destination to deliver their cargo.


Can sound travel through plasma?

Yes, sound can travel through plasma. Plasma is a state of matter in which atoms are ionized, creating a mixture of free electrons and ions that can transmit sound waves by causing oscillations in the density of the charged particles. Sound waves can propagate through plasma in a similar manner to how they do in gases and liquids.


What is the structure of plasma membrane?

The main structure of the plasma membrane is composed of the phospholipid bilayer. The phospholipid bilayer is composed of a spherical hypertonic head & a straight hypotonic tail which is designed to prevent the flow of unauthorized molecules & to maintain control of what enters & exits the cell. In order for a molecule to pass through, it must use one of multiple different methods of molecular transportation. The most common is the use of channel proteins. The molecule will travel through the channel protein based on its size & polarity-polar or non-polar.


Osmosis can only if water travels through what?

Osmosis can only occur if water travels through a semi-permeable membrane. This membrane allows water molecules to pass through but restricts the movement of solute particles. Osmosis is the process of water moving from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration to equalize the concentration on both sides of the membrane.


What part of the cell acts like a selective filter and determines what goes in and out of the cell?

The plasma membrane is selectively permeable, allowing certain molecules to travel in and out of the cell. The size, PH, and temperature all play a factor in what molecules travel through the membrane or don't.


Can a certain substance pass across the cell membrane?

Also small molecules.Basically because the cell membrane is amphipathic; a polar head and non-polar tails make up the double layered membrane with non-polar tails sticking inward and polar heads outward. This means that the non-polar middle, the lipid part, does not allow hydrophyllic substances to pass easily through the membrane while non-polar substances can pass through easily. Having to do with charge and solubility.


Why can't ions typically travel through the cell membrane?

Ions typically cannot travel through the cell membrane because the membrane is selectively permeable, meaning it only allows certain substances to pass through. The structure of the cell membrane does not easily allow ions to pass through, so they require specific channels or transport proteins to facilitate their movement into or out of the cell.


What is The path of the photons through the suns plasma is called?

The path of photons through the Sun's plasma is called radiative diffusion. Photons travel through the Sun's plasma by bouncing off charged particles in a random walk pattern until they reach the surface and are emitted as sunlight.


What does it mean for a molecule to be transparent to radiation?

A molecule is transparent to radiation when it allows radiation to pass through it without being absorbed or scattered. In other words, the radiation can travel through the molecule with minimal interaction.


Where waves can travel?

Sound waves can travel through any medium,here medium can be any matter includes solid,liquid,gas,plasma...


If a cell had a radius of 4 inches how long would it take for a molecule to travel from the cell membrane to the cell nucleus using diffusion?

1 second