Diffusion

• What is diffusion ?

  the spreading out of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration
• Cells are surrounded by high concentration of oxygen
• What is the concentration gradient ?

  • the difference in the concentration
  • the greater the concentration gradient the faster the diffusion takes place
• What does temperature do to diffusion ?

  • the higher the temperature the greater the rate of diffusion
  • the particles have more kinetic energy and are moving faster
• What does large surface area do to diffusion ?

  • the larger the surface area of the cell the greater the rate of diffusion
• Substances move in and out of the cell membrane by diffusion