Factors affecting the rate of diffusion

• Solute


  the dissolved substance in a solution
• Solvent


  The liquid in which the solute dissolves to form a solution
• Solution


  Mixture formed by a solute and a solvent
• Concentration gradient

  The difference in the concentration of a chemical across a membrane
• Factors affecting the rate of diffusion

  • the concentration gradient
  • the temperature
  • the surface area of the cell membrane separating the different regions
• The concentration gradient - reason


  The greater the different in concentration, the quicker the rate of diffusion
• The temperature - reason


  The higher the temperature, the more kinetic energy the particles will have, so they will move and mix more quickly
• The surface area of the cell membrane separating the different regions - reason


  The greater the surface area, the faster the rate of diffusion