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Proteins, Carbohydrates, and Cholesterol. (Check out, 'fluid mosaic')

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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 does hydrophobic molecules cross the plasma membrane while hydropilic cannot?

Hydrophobic molecules can easily cross the plasma membrane because they are nonpolar and can dissolve in the lipid bilayer, allowing them to pass through without assistance. In contrast, hydrophilic molecules are polar and cannot easily penetrate the hydrophobic core of the membrane, which acts as a barrier to their passage. As a result, hydrophilic substances often require specific transport proteins or channels to help them cross the membrane.


How does nitric oxide cross the plasma membrane?

Nitric oxide can diffuse freely across the plasma membrane due to its small size and lipophilic nature. It does not require a specific transporter or receptor for entry into cells.


What Particular molecules or ions freely cross the plasma membrane with assistance?

large polar molecules cannot pass through the membrane. only nonpolar and small polar molecules can pass through, and they only go from high to low concentration or else they need assistance from active transport.


What depends on a molecule that can cross the plasma membrane?

The size, charge, and hydrophobicity of a molecule determine its ability to cross the plasma membrane. Small, nonpolar, and uncharged molecules can typically pass through the membrane via simple diffusion, while larger, charged, or hydrophilic molecules may require transport proteins or channels to facilitate their movement.

Related Questions

How do glucose molecules cross a plasma membrane?

Facilitated Diffusion


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 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.


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.


Why does hydrophobic molecules cross the plasma membrane while hydropilic cannot?

Hydrophobic molecules can easily cross the plasma membrane because they are nonpolar and can dissolve in the lipid bilayer, allowing them to pass through without assistance. In contrast, hydrophilic molecules are polar and cannot easily penetrate the hydrophobic core of the membrane, which acts as a barrier to their passage. As a result, hydrophilic substances often require specific transport proteins or channels to help them cross the membrane.


How does nitric oxide cross the plasma membrane?

Nitric oxide can diffuse freely across the plasma membrane due to its small size and lipophilic nature. It does not require a specific transporter or receptor for entry into cells.


What depends on a molecule that can cross the plasma membrane?

The size, charge, and hydrophobicity of a molecule determine its ability to cross the plasma membrane. Small, nonpolar, and uncharged molecules can typically pass through the membrane via simple diffusion, while larger, charged, or hydrophilic molecules may require transport proteins or channels to facilitate their movement.


What Particular molecules or ions freely cross the plasma membrane with assistance?

large polar molecules cannot pass through the membrane. only nonpolar and small polar molecules can pass through, and they only go from high to low concentration or else they need assistance from active transport.


How do glucose molecules cross a plasma membrane on the apical side of epithelial cells?

Glucose molecules cross the plasma membrane on the apical side of epithelial cells through facilitated diffusion using glucose transporters such as GLUT1 and GLUT2. These transporter proteins help the glucose molecules move down their concentration gradient into the cell.


Which molecues cross the membrane of a cell easily and which do not?

Non-polar molecules (such as fatty acids, steroid hormones and O2) pass freely through the cell membrane. Small uncharged molecules (such as H2O) also pass freely, but are slower. Large, polar molecules and ions (such as Na+ and K+) do not pass freely. Macromolecules (such as proteins and polysaccharides) do not pass through the cell membrane. Molecules and ions that cannot pass freely through the cell membrane rely on other means, such as protein transporters, to move in to the cell.


How easy or hard is it for polar molecules to pass through the cell membrane?

Polar molecules are effectively charged molecules. It's hard for them to cross the cell membrane because the membrane is comprised of an uncharged phospholipid bilayer. Charged molecules tend to have specific protein channels that allow them to cross the membrane.


Does transported substances never physically cross the plasma membrane in endocytosis?

In endocytosis, transported substances are enclosed in vesicles formed from the plasma membrane, which do physically cross the plasma membrane. These vesicles then transport the substances into the cell.