Active Transport

• Active transport is a process that is required to move molecules against a concentration gradient.
• The substances moved in active transport are:

  • mineral ions into plant roots
  • glucose - from the gut into intestinal cells → blood
• Energy is required for active transport
• Active transport does many things:

  • moves substances from a more dilute solution
  • moves substances to a more concentrated solution

  these all require energy from respiration
• Unlike diffusion and osmosis active transport requires energy from respiration to happen.
• Cell membranes contain "transport protiens"
• In active transport energy allows molecules to change shape which moves a solute particle into a cell.
• Active transport in the gut:

  Glucose is provided by the food we eat.

  It must be absorbed across the wall of the small intestine into the blood stream .

  Active transport of the glucose molecules means glucose can be absorbed even if its concentration in the blood is higher than its concentration in the small intestine .
• Active transport is important because cells need glucose for respiration this happens in the mitochondria .
• Why is active transport important?

  because cells need glucose for respiration in the mitochondria.
• Active transport in the roots:

  • Plants need mineral ions such as nitrate ions for healthy growth.
  • The root hair cells absorb mineral ions from soil water
  • The concentration of ions in soil water is very low