4.

2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

How do substances move across cell

membrane?
• Diffusion ( 擴散 )
• Osmosis ( 滲透 )
• Active transport ( 主動轉運 )
• Phagocytosis ( 吞噬 )

Aristo 4.1 4.2  1 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

What is diffusion?

higher lower
concentratio concentratio
n n

concentration gradient ( 濃度梯度 ) exist

Aristo 4.1 4.2  2 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

What is diffusion?

without using energy

higher lower
concentratio concentratio
n n

net movement of particles

Aristo 4.1 4.2  3 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

What is diffusion?

Nonet
equilibrium
movement

particles move randomly in all direction and

spread evenly throughout the space
Aristo 4.1 4.2  4 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Watch diffusion in action

water molecules dye particles

place a drop of dye in dye particles diffuse from high dye particles are
a glass of water to low dye concentration uniformly dispensed
Aristo 4.1 4.2  5 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Diffusion across the cell membrane

small, non-polar polar molecules
molecules

diffuse through
directly diffuse
channel
through the
proteins or
bilayer
carrier proteins

Aristo 4.1 4.2  6 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Importance of diffusion to organisms

Exchange of substances
glucose
oxygen

 useful substances enter cells

Aristo 4.1 4.2  7 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Importance of diffusion to organisms

Exchange of substances

carbon dioxide

 metabolic wastes can exit cells

Aristo 4.1 4.2  8 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Importance of diffusion to organisms

e.g. in the lungs…

oxygen diffuses from air sac

into the blood capillaries

carbon dioxide diffuses from

the blood into the air sacs
Aristo 4.1 4.2  9 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Importance of diffusion to organisms

e.g. inside cells…
• distribution of substances within the
cytoplasm

Aristo 4.1 4.2  10 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

What factors affect the rate of diffusion?

a. Concentration gradient

• greater the difference in concentration,

the steeper is the slope
Aristo 4.1 4.2  11 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

What factors affect the rate of diffusion?

b. Distance

• shorter the distance, the higher is the rate

Aristo 4.1 4.2  12 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

What factors affect the rate of diffusion?

c. Surface area

surface area of the membrane increases

Aristo 4.1 4.2  13 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

What factors affect the rate of diffusion?

d. Temperature

• higher the temperature, the higher is the

kinetic energy of particles
Aristo 4.1 4.2  14 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

What factors affect the rate of diffusion?

e. Size and nature of particles
Higher diffusion rate Lower diffusion rate
Size

smaller particles larger particles

Nature water
alcohol
or ion
lipid-soluble water-soluble
(non-polar molecule) (polar molecule)
Aristo 4.1 4.2  15 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

1. Diffusion is the net movement of particles

from a region of higher concentration to a
region of lower concentration.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  16 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

exchange of
2. Diffusion is important for the exchange
substances between cells and with the
even
environment. It is also responsible for the even
distribution of substances throughout the
cytoplasm.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  17 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

3. The rate of diffusion is affected by the

concentration , distance ,
surfacegradient
area , temperature , and the size
and nature of particles.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  18 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Which of the following statements about diffusion

is/are correct?
(1) Diffusion does not require energy from cells.
(2) Diffusion occurs when a concentration gradient
exists.
(3) There will be no movement of particles when
the concentration gradient becomes zero.
A. (1) only B. (1) and (2) only
C. (2) and (3) only D. (1), (2) and (3) B
Aristo 4.1 4.2  19 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

What is osmosis?
separated by a differentially
permeable membrane

water molecule net movement

of water
sucrose molecule
molecules
A B
(concentrated (dilute sucrose
sucrose solution) solution)
Aristo 4.1 4.2  20 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Activity 4.1 Concept Development

How osmosis works

Consider a set-up in which a concentrated sucrose
solution is separated from a dilute sucrose solution
by a differentially permeable membrane.
differentially
permeable membrane
water molecule
sucrose molecule

A B
(concentrated sucrose solution) (dilute sucrose solution)
Aristo 4.1 4.2  21 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Activity 4.1 Concept Development

The membrane has numerous tiny pores that allow

small particles (e.g. water molecules) but not larger
particles (e.g. sucrose molecules) to pass through.

differentially
permeable membrane
water molecule
sucrose molecule

A B
(concentrated sucrose solution) (dilute sucrose solution)
Aristo 4.1 4.2  22 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Activity 4.1 Concept Development

The diagram below shows what happens when the

set-up is allowed to stand for some time.

after some time

A B

Aristo 4.1 4.2  23 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Activity 4.1 Concept Development

1. Which side of the container initially has a larger

proportion of water molecules?

The right side / B

Aristo 4.1 4.2  24 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Activity 4.1 Concept Development

2. There is a rise in the solution level on side A and

a fall on side B after some time. Explain this in
terms of the net movement of water molecules
in the container.
There is a net movement of water molecules
from side B to side A.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  25 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

What is osmosis?

net movement of water molecules

water molecule

sucrose molecule

A B
concentrated dilute
solution solution
Aristo 4.1 4.2  26 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Why would osmosis happen?

• water potential ( 水勢 )
 the tendency of water molecules to
diffuse from one place to another

A B

Aristo 4.1 4.2  27 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Why would osmosis happen?

• water potential ( 水勢 )

Water potential is represented by the

Greek symbol Ψ (psi). It is measured in
Pascals (Pa), a unit of pressure.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  28 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Why would osmosis happen?

• water potential ( 水勢 )

Solute
Water potential
concentration
of the solution
of the solution

inversely proportional

Aristo 4.1 4.2  29 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Why would osmosis happen?

sucrose differentially permeable
molecule membrane
water
molecule

lower higher
water water
potential potential

concentrated dilute sucrose

sucrose solution solution
Aristo 4.1 4.2  30 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

✗ When two solutions separated by a

differentially permeable membrane have the
same water potential, there is no movement
of water molecules across the membrane.
✓ When the water potential of two solutions is
the same, water molecules still move across
the membrane in both directions, but there
is no net movement of water molecules.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  31 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.1 Video

Demonstration of osmosis using

dialysis tubing
Dialysis tubing ( 透析管 ) has molecular pores that
allow small particles (e.g. water molecules) but not
larger ones (e.g. sucrose molecules) to pass
through.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  32 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.1 Video

Procedure
1. Soak a piece of dialysis tubing of 15 cm long in
distilled water for about two minutes to make it
soft.
2. Tie a knot tightly in one end of the tubing. Fill the
tubing with 20% sucrose solution using a
dropper.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  33 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.1 Video

3. Tie the other end of the tubing to a capillary tube

tightly with a piece of thread. Make sure that the
tubing does not leak at either end.

Why is a capillary tube used?

It has a small bore so that the change in the
liquid level is more obvious.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  34 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.1 Video

4. Rinse the outside of the tubing thoroughly with

distilled water.
Why is it necessary to rinse the outside of
the dialysis tubing with distilled water?
This removes any sucrose solution remaining
on the outside of the dialysis tubing, which
can affect the experimental results.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  35 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.1 Video

5. Clamp the capillary tube to a retort stand in a

way that the dialysis tubing is totally immersed in
a beaker of distilled water as shown below.

capillary tubes
liquid levels
dialysis tubing
filled with 20%
sucrose solution distilled water

Aristo 4.1 4.2  36 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.1 Video

5. Use a marker pen to mark the initial liquid level

on the capillary tube. This is the experimental
set-up.

capillary tubes
liquid levels
dialysis tubing
filled with 20%
sucrose solution distilled water

experimental set-up
Aristo 4.1 4.2  37 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.1 Video

6. Prepare a control set-up by filling another piece

of dialysis tubing with distilled water instead of
sucrose solution.

capillary tubes
liquid levels
dialysis tubing dialysis tubing
filled with 20% filled with
sucrose solution distilled water distilled water

experimental set-up control set-up

Aristo 4.1 4.2  38 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.1 Video

7. Observe any changes in the liquid levels in both

capillary tubes after 20 minutes.

capillary tubes
liquid levels
dialysis tubing dialysis tubing
filled with 20% filled with
sucrose solution distilled water distilled water

experimental set-up control set-up

Aristo 4.1 4.2  39 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.1 Video

Results

Change in the liquid level in

Set-up
the capillary tube
The liquid level rises to a
Experimental set-up
certain height and then stops.

Control set-up The liquid level falls.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  40 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.1 Video

Discussion
• The liquid level in the experimental set-up rises
to a certain height and then stops.
• The liquid level in the control set-up falls slightly.

The weight of water column in the capillary tube exerts

a hydrostatic pressure on the water in the dialysis
tubing, forcing more water molecules to move out.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  41 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.1 Video

Discussion
• The results show that there is a net movement
of water molecules from the distilled water
(with a higher water potential) to the sucrose
solution (with a lower potential) across the
dialysis tubing.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  42 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.2 Video

Demonstration of osmosis using living

animal tissue
Animal tissues, such as a fish swim bladder and a
chicken's crop, are differentially permeable and
allow water molecules, but not the larger solute
molecules such as sucrose, to pass through.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  43 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.2 Video

Procedure
1. Cover the mouths of two thistle funnels each
with a piece of fresh animal tissue (e.g. a fish
swim bladder or a chicken's crop). Tie the tissue
tightly with a rubber band.

Wear disposable gloves.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  44 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.2 Video

2. Invert the thistle funnels. Add 20% sucrose

solution to one of the funnels (set-up A) using a
dropper. Add distilled water to the other funnel
(set-up B).
What is the purpose of set-up B?
Set-up B serves as a control to show that any
change in the liquid level in set-up A is due to
the sucrose solution.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  45 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.2 Video

3. Rinse the outside of the thistle funnels and the

animal tissues thoroughly with distilled water.
4. Set up the apparatus as shown below.

liquid levels
thistle funnel thistle funnel
filled with 20% distilled water filled with
sucrose solution distilled water
animal tissues
set-up A set-up B
Aristo 4.1 4.2  46 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.2 Video

4. Use a marker pen to mark the initial liquid levels

in the thistle funnels.

liquid levels
thistle funnel thistle funnel
filled with 20% distilled water filled with
sucrose solution distilled water
animal tissues
set-up A set-up B
Aristo 4.1 4.2  47 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.2 Video

5. Measure and record any changes in the liquid

levels in both thistle funnels at five-minute
intervals for 30 minutes.

liquid levels
thistle funnel thistle funnel
filled with 20% distilled water filled with
sucrose solution distilled water
animal tissues
set-up A set-up B
Aristo 4.1 4.2  48 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.2 Video

Results
Time (min)
Set-up
5 10 15 20 25 30
Change in the liquid
level in the thistle
funnel of set-up A (mm) (Results vary with students.)
Change in the liquid
level in the thistle
funnel of set-up B (mm)

Aristo 4.1 4.2  49 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.2 Video

Discussion
• In set-up A, the water potential of the distilled
water in the beaker is higher than that of the
sucrose solution in the thistle funnel. There is a
net movement of water molecules from the
beaker into the thistle funnel through the
animal tissue which is differentially permeable.
As a result, the liquid level in the thistle funnel
rises.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  50 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.2 Video

Discussion
• Set-up B serves as a control. The weight of the
water column in the thistle funnel creates a
hydrostatic pressure, which forces water
molecules to move out from the thistle funnel
into the beaker. As a result, the liquid level in
the thistle funnel may fall slightly.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  51 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

How does osmosis affect cells?

a. Cells in an isotonic ( 等滲的 ) solution
tissue fluid
Same water potential

cytoplasm cell wall

cytoplasm
cell membrane vacuole

animal cell plant cell

Aristo 4.1 4.2  52 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

How does osmosis affect cells?

a. Cells in an isotonic ( 等滲的 ) solution
tissue fluid No net movement of
water molecules

cytoplasm cell wall

cytoplasm
cell membrane vacuole

animal cell plant cell

Aristo 4.1 4.2  53 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

How does osmosis affect cells?

a. Cells in an isotonic ( 等滲的 ) solution

Water molecules are small polar

molecules. They move across the cell
membrane through specific channel
proteins for water.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  54 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

How does osmosis affect cells?

b. Cells in an hypotonic ( 低滲的 ) solution
tissue fluid
Higher water potential in solution

the cell
more water swells or
enters the even bursts
cell
animal cell
Aristo 4.1 4.2  55 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

How does osmosis affect cells?

b. Cells in an hypotonic ( 低滲的 ) solution
tissue fluid
Higher water potential in solution

the cell
more water becomes
enters the turgid
cell
plant cell
Aristo 4.1 4.2  56 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

How does osmosis affect cells?

b. Cells in an hypotonic ( 低滲的 ) solution

The bursting of red blood cells leading

to the release of haemoglobin is called
haemolysis (Refer to Practical 4.3).

Aristo 4.1 4.2  57 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

How does osmosis affect cells?

c. Cells in a hypertonic ( 高滲的 ) solution
tissue fluid
Lower water potential in solution

the cell
more water shrinks and
leaves the cell becomes
wrinkled
animal cell
Aristo 4.1 4.2  58 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

How does osmosis affect cells?

c. Cells in a hypertonic ( 高滲的 ) solution
tissue fluid
Lower water potential in solution

the cell becomes

more water flaccid ( 軟縮 )
leaves the cell and plasmolysed
( 質壁分離 )
plant cell
Aristo 4.1 4.2  59 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Importance of osmosis in plants

gain water by osmosis

• become turgid
• press against each  provide support
other
Aristo 4.1 4.2  60 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Importance of osmosis in plants

significant water loss

• become flaccid
 plant wilts

Aristo 4.1 4.2  61 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Importance of osmosis in humans

Absorption of water
in food in the small
intestine

Aristo 4.1 4.2  62 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.3 Video

Study of osmosis in red blood cells

Procedure
1. Examine prepared slides of red blood cells in
sodium chloride solutions of different
concentrations with a high power microscope.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  63 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.3 Video

2. Determine which solutions are hypertonic,

hypotonic and isotonic to the cells.

solution A (0%) solution B (0.9%) solution C (1.8%)

Different appearances of red blood cells in sodium
chloride solutions of different concentrations
Aristo 4.1 4.2  64 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.3 Video

Discussion
• The red blood cells in solution A swell and some
have burst. This shows that the water potential
of solution A is higher than that of the red blood
cells (i.e. solution A is hypotonic to the cells).
Water enters the red blood cells by osmosis,
causing them to swell and finally burst. The
bursting of red blood cells leading to the release
of haemoglobin is called haemolysis ( 溶血 ).

Aristo 4.1 4.2  65 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.3 Video

Discussion
• The red blood cells in solution B appear normal.
This shows that there is no difference in water
potential between the cells and their
surroundings (i.e. solution B is isotonic to the
cells). There is no net movement of water into or
out of the cells.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  66 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.3 Video

Discussion
• The red blood cells in solution C shrink and
become wrinkled. This shows that the water
potential of solution C is lower than that of the
red blood cells (i.e. solution C is hypertonic to the
cells). Water leaves the cells by osmosis, making
them shrink.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  67 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.4 Video

Study of osmosis in living plant cells

In this practical, you will study osmosis in plant cells
using the epidermis from a red onion scale leaf. The
epidermal cells of red onions contain a red
pigment. This allows us to observe the changes in
these cells easily.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  68 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.4 Video

Procedure
1. Remove one of the fleshy scale leaves from a red
onion. Use a pair of fine forceps to peel off the
epidermis from the coloured layer of the scale
leaf.
2. Cut the epidermis to a
suitable size and spread Fine forceps and scissors
it flat on a microscope are sharp objects.
slide. Handle them with
care.
Aristo 4.1 4.2  69 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.4 Video

3. Add a drop of concentrated sucrose solution and

place a cover slip over the epidermis. Wait for
three minutes.
(a) Why is it necessary to cover the epidermis
with a cover slip?
This is to prevent the evaporation of water
from the sucrose solution, which may change
the water potential of the solution and affect
the experimental results.
Aristo 4.1 4.2  70 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.4 Video

3. Add a drop of concentrated sucrose solution and

place a cover slip over the epidermis. Wait for
three minutes.
(a) Why is it necessary to cover the epidermis
with a cover slip?
This also flattens the specimen and
prevents the objective from touching the
specimen.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  71 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.4 Video

3. Add a drop of concentrated sucrose solution and

place a cover slip over the epidermis. Wait for
three minutes.
(b) Predict the state of the epidermal cells
immersed in concentrated sucrose solution.
They are plasmolysed.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  72 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.4 Video

4. Examine the slide with a microscope at high

power magnification. Draw a labelled high power
diagram of the red onion epidermal cells in
concentrated sucrose solution.

cytoplasm
cell membrane
cell wall

Red onion epidermal cells in concentrated sucrose solution (x100)

Aristo 4.1 4.2  73 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.4 Video

5. Dilute the sucrose solution with distilled water as

shown below. Wait for three minutes.

epidermis from a red

onion scale leaf

distilled water tissue paper (for

drawing distilled
water from the
other side)

Aristo 4.1 4.2  74 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.4 Video

5. Dilute the sucrose solution with distilled water as

shown below. Wait for three minutes
Predict the state of the epidermal cells
immersed in distilled water.
They become turgid.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  75 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.4 Video

5. Observe the slide again with the microscope at

high power magnification. Draw a labelled high
power diagram of the red onion epidermal cells
in distilled water.
cytoplasm
cell wall

Red onion epidermal cells in distilled water (x100)

Aristo 4.1 4.2  76 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.4 Video

Discussion
• In concentrated sucrose solution, the epidermal
cells lose water by osmosis because the water
potential of the cells is higher than that of the
surrounding solution. The coloured cytoplasm
shrinks and the cells become plasmolysed.

Red onion epidermal cells in

concentrated sucrose solution

Aristo 4.1 4.2  77 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.4 Video

Discussion
• When the sucrose solution is diluted with
distilled water, the epidermal cells gain water by
osmosis because the water potential of the cells
is lower than that of their surroundings. The
cells become turgid again.

Red onion epidermal cells in

distilled water

Aristo 4.1 4.2  78 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.5 Video

Study of osmosis in living plant tissue

Procedure
1. Add 20 cm3 of distilled water to a boiling tube
and 20 cm3 of 20% sucrose solution to another
boiling tube.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  79 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.5 Video

2. Use a cork borer to obtain four potato strips. Cut

each strip to 5 cm long. Make sure that no peel
is left on the strips.

cork borer

potato A cork borer and a razor

blade are sharp
objects. Handle them
with care.
Aristo 4.1 4.2  80 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.5 Video

2. Use a cork borer to obtain four potato strips. Cut

each strip to 5 cm long. Make sure that no peel
is left on the strips.
Why is it necessary to remove all peel from
the potato strips?
Potato skin is impermeable to water.
Removing the peel exposes the potato cells
for osmosis to take place during the
experiment.
Aristo 4.1 4.2  81 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.5 Video

3. Gently blot the potato strips with tissue paper.

Measure the initial mass of each potato strip
with an electronic balance.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  82 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.5 Video

4. Put two strips into each boiling tube. Make sure

that the potato strips are completely immersed
in the solution. Cover the boiling tubes with
plastic wrap and leave them for one hour.
plastic wrap

distilled 20% sucrose

water solution

potato strips
Aristo 4.1 4.2  83 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.5 Video

4. Put two strips into each boiling tube. Make sure

that the potato strips are completely immersed
in the solution. Cover the boiling tubes with
plastic wrap and leave them for one hour.
Why should the boiling tubes be covered with
plastic wrap?
To prevent the evaporation of water, which
may change the concentration of the sucrose
solution and affect the experimental results.
Aristo 4.1 4.2  84 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.5 Video

5. Remove the strips from the boiling tubes with a

pair of forceps.
6. Gently blot the potato strips with tissue paper.
Measure and record the final mass of each strip.
7. Calculate the percentage change in the mass of
each potato strip in each tube. Present your data
in the form of a table.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  85 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.5 Video

Results
Initial mass (g)
Liquid inside the
boiling tube Strip 1 Strip 2 Average

Distilled water (Results vary with students.)

20% sucrose
solution

Aristo 4.1 4.2  86 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.5 Video

Results
Final mass (g)
Average value
Liquid
of percentage
inside the
Strip 1 Strip 2 Average change in mass
boiling tube
(%)
(Results vary with students. Normally, the
Distilled mass of the potato strips increases in
water distilled water and decreases in the 20%
20% sucrose sucrose solution.)
solution
Aristo 4.1 4.2  87 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.5 Video

Discussion
• In distilled water, the mass of the potato strips
increases. This is because the water potential of
the potato tissue is lower than that of distilled
water. There is a net movement of water into
the cells by osmosis.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  88 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.5 Video

Discussion
• In 20% sucrose solution, the mass of the potato
strips decreases. This is because the water
potential of the potato tissue is higher than that
of the 20% sucrose solution. There is a net
movement of water out of the cells by osmosis.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  89 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.6 Video

Designing an investigation to determine

the water potential of potato tissue
A plant tissue may gain or lose water by osmosis
depending on the difference in water potential
between the cells and the surrounding liquid. Your
teacher will provide you with some potatoes, 20%
sucrose solution, distilled water and other
apparatus. Design and perform an investigation to
determine the water potential of the potato
tissue.
Aristo 4.1 4.2  90 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Practical 4.6 Video

Think about the following aspects when designing

your investigation:
• How do you know whether the water potential
of the potato tissue is the same as that of the
surrounding solution?
• What are the independent, dependent and
control variables?
• Is a control set-up needed? Why or why not?
• What assumption(s) is/are made?

Aristo 4.1 4.2  91 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Worked example 4.1

Kate carried out an investigation to determine the
water potential of potato tissue.
Using a cork borer, she cut six cylinders out of a
potato. She measured the mass of each cylinder
and then placed them in sucrose solutions of
different concentrations.
After one hour, she measured the mass of each
cylinder again and calculated the percentage
change in mass.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  92 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Worked example 4.1

The table below shows the results.
Concentration of Percentage change in
sucrose solution (M) mass (%)
0 15.5
0.1 10.0
0.2 7.5
0.3 2.0
0.4 -4.0
0.5 -6.0
Aristo 4.1 4.2  93 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Worked example 4.1

(a) The initial mass of the potato cylinder in 0.3 M
sucrose solution was 3.00 g. Calculate its final
mass. Show your working. (2 marks)
Final mass = 3.00 + 3.00 × 2% = 3.06 g (1),
(1)

Aristo 4.1 4.2  94 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Worked example 4.1

(b) (i) Plot a graph to show how the percentage
change in the mass of the potato cylinders
varied in different concentrations of sucrose
solution. Join the points with a best fit line.
(4 marks)

Aristo 4.1 4.2  95 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Worked example 4.1

The percentage
best fit linechange
does notin have
the mass
to of potato cylinders
inpass
sucrose solutions
through all theofpoints
different concentrations
percentage change in mass (%)

20 close enough

Title above 15 X-axis: independent
the graph variable (with unit)
10

5
concentration of
0
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 sucrose solution (M)
-5 Y-axis: dependent
-10
variable (with unit)
Correct title (1); correct choices of axes (1);
Axes with labels and units (1); correct plotting and joining of line (1)
Aristo 4.1 4.2  96 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Worked example 4.1

(b)(ii) Use your graph to determine the concentration
of the sucrose solution that is isotonic to the
potato tissue. (1 mark)
0.35M (1)

Aristo 4.1 4.2  97 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

1. Osmosis is the net movement of water

molecules from a region of higher water
potential to a region of lower water potential
across a differentially permeable membrane.
2. When cells are immersed in an isotonic
solution, there is no net movement of water
into or out of the cells.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  98 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

3. When cells are immersed in a hypotonic

solution, there is a net movement of water into
the cells by osmosis. Animal cells swell and
burst , while plant cells become turgid .

Aristo 4.1 4.2  99 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

hypertonic
4. When cells are immersed in a hypertonic
solution, there is a net movement of water out
of the cells by osmosis. Animal cells shrink and
become wrinkled , while plant cells become
plasmolysed and flaccid .

Aristo 4.1 4.2  100 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

The diagrams below show the appearance of the

same plant cell after it has been immersed in
solutions of different concentrations (P, Q, R and S).
Arrange the solutions in the order of increasing
water potential.
P Q R S

S < Q < P < R

Aristo 4.1 4.2  101 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

What is active transport?

Outside the cell:
lower concentration
involves
specific
carrier
protein
Inside the cell:
higher concentration

absorb substances against the

concentration gradient
Aristo 4.1 4.2  102 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

What is active transport?

Outside the cell: energy from
lower concentration respiration

Inside the cell:

higher concentration

occurs only in living cells

Aristo 4.1 4.2  103 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

What is active transport?

Outside the cell: energy from
lower concentration respiration

Inside the cell:

higher concentration

factors affecting the rate of respiration

also affect rate of active transport
Aristo 4.1 4.2  104 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

What is active transport?

Outside the cell: energy from
lower concentration respiration

Inside the cell:

higher concentration

the shape of carrier protein changes

Aristo 4.1 4.2  105 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

What is active transport?

Carrier proteins are specific to particular

substances. The movement of different types
of substance across the cell membrane by
active transport requires different types of
carrier proteins.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  106 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Importance of active transport in plants

Key:
4000
inside cells
Concentration of mineral ion

3000 in the liquid surrounding the plant

(mg/L)

2000

1000

0
sod po ma cal chl
ium ta s gn ciu ori
siu esi m de
m um

Aristo 4.1 4.2  107 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Importance of active transport in plants

• uptake of minerals from the soil into the roots

Aristo 4.1 4.2  108 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Importance of active transport in humans

• reabsorption of • absorption of small

glucose and amino water-soluble molecules
acids in the kidney in small intestine at the
tubules same time with diffusion
Aristo 4.1 4.2  109 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Active transport is the movement of substances

across the cell membrane with the use of energy
from respiration. The process involves
carrier proteins .

Aristo 4.1 4.2  110 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Which of the following processes is not carried out

by active transport?
A. exchange of gases in the air sacs
B. absorption of glucose by cells lining the small
intestine
C. reabsorption of amino acids in the kidney tubules
D. absorption of minerals from soil water by root
hair cells
A
Aristo 4.1 4.2  111 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

What is phagocytosis?
• to take in large solid particles or cells
• requires energy from respiration

Outside the cell

Inside the cell

Aristo 4.1 4.2  112 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

What happens in phagocytosis?

 pseudopodia ( 偽足 ) or a pit is Outside the cell
formed to enclose a foreign particle

foreign particle pseudopodia

cell
membrane

Inside the cell

Aristo 4.1 4.2  113 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

What happens in phagocytosis?

Outside the cell

 particle enters the

cytoplasm in a vacuole

vacuole

Inside the cell

Aristo 4.1 4.2  114 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

What happens in phagocytosis?

Outside the cell

 lysosome containing enzymes

fuses with the vacuole and
digests the particle

Inside the cell

Aristo 4.1 4.2  115 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

What happens in phagocytosis?

Outside the cell

 digested products diffuse

into the cytoplasm

Inside the cell

Aristo 4.1 4.2  116 
4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Importance of phagocytosis
• for body defence against diseases

A white blood cell

(right) engulfing a
yeast cell (left) by
phagocytosis

Aristo 4.1 4.2  117 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Importance of phagocytosis
• for feeding in some unicellular organisms

pseudopodia
An amoeba
engulfing a food
particle by
extending
pseudopodia

Aristo 4.1 4.2  118 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

1. Phagocytosis is a process by which

large solid particles can be taken in by cells.
It requires energy .

Aristo 4.1 4.2  119 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

2. Phagocytosis is important for:

• body defence , e.g. phagocytes can engulf
invading microorganisms by phagocytosis.
• feeding by some unicellular organisms, e.g.
Amoeba

Aristo 4.1 4.2  120 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

The diagrams on the next slide show the stages of

phagocytosis carried out by a phagocyte.

Aristo 4.1 4.2  121 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

(1) A bacterium is enclosed (2) Pseudopodia surround

in a vacuole. the bacterium.
bacterium phagocyte
vacuole enzyme
nucleus

(3) The phagocyte forms (4) The bacterium is digested

pseudopodia. by enzymes.

pseudopodia

Aristo 4.1 4.2  122 

4.2 Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Arrange these stages in the correct order.

A. (1), (4), (2), (3)

B. (2), (3), (4), (1)
C. (3), (2), (1), (4)
D. (3), (2), (4), (1)

C
Aristo 4.1 4.2  123 