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they are hydrophilic and can't cross the hydrophobic region of the plasma membrane

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13y ago

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Diffusion of glucose and starch?

Glucose and starch diffuse differently due to their molecular sizes. Glucose is a small, soluble molecule that can diffuse easily through cell membranes via facilitated diffusion. In contrast, starch is a large, complex molecule that cannot diffuse through cell membranes and requires enzymatic breakdown before it can be transported into cells.


Lipids are described as being what or water-hating?

Lipids are hydrophobic macromolecules. Literally it means "fear of water", and that water cannot easily diffuse across lipid membranes.


Why can carbon dioxide move easily through a membrane?

Carbon dioxide is a relatively small molecule, and can diffuse through semi-permeable membranes easily, providing that it moves down a higher concentration gradient.


What kind of substance cannot pass through the cell membrane?

lipids, and ribosomeslipids


Why does oxygen diffuse into the blood instead of the active transport?

Oxygen is a small molecule that can easily diffuse across cell membranes, including the membranes of red blood cells. This passive diffusion process is faster and more efficient than active transport for molecules like oxygen that are able to freely move across cell membranes.


What type of compound would easily diffuse into the cell?

Small, nonpolar molecules such as oxygen and carbon dioxide can easily diffuse into the cell membrane due to their ability to pass through the lipid bilayer. Hydrophobic compounds also diffuse across the membrane more readily than hydrophilic compounds.


Do larger molecules diffuse more readily than smaller molecules?

No, smaller molecules generally diffuse more readily than larger molecules because they can move through pores and gaps in substances more easily due to their smaller size. This is why smaller molecules like oxygen and carbon dioxide can diffuse through cell membranes more quickly than larger molecules like proteins.


What particles could diffuse easily through a cell membrane sodium and oxygen?

Oxygen (O2)


How do penetrating and non-penetrating solutes differ in their ability to cross biological membranes?

Penetrating solutes can cross biological membranes easily, while non-penetrating solutes cannot pass through the membrane without the help of specific transport mechanisms.


Is oxygen lipid soluble?

No, oxygen is not lipid soluble. It is a small, nonpolar molecule that can diffuse easily across cell membranes without the need for specific transport mechanisms.


Proteins do not pass through cell membranes because?

Proteins do not pass through cell membranes freely because they are large molecules that cannot easily fit through the membrane's lipid bilayer. Instead, proteins are typically transported into or out of cells through specific channels or transport proteins in a process called facilitated diffusion or active transport.


How do penetrating and non-penetrating solutes differ in their ability to cross cell membranes?

Penetrating solutes can cross cell membranes easily due to their ability to dissolve in lipids, while non-penetrating solutes cannot cross cell membranes easily because they do not dissolve in lipids.