Cells - Passive Cell Transport Notes

There are 2 kinds of ways that the cell regulates solute concentration in cells: passive and active transport
There are 3 types of passive transport: diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and osmosis
In diffusion and facilitated diffusion, molecules always move from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration
Solute molecules will continuously move until equilibrium is reached
Diffusion is faster at higher concentrations
Diffusion is faster at higher temperatures
Diffusion is faster at higher pressures
Small, non-polar molecules diffuse easily across the phospholipid bilayer of the cell membrane
Large, polar, or charged molecules cannot move through the bilayer by themselves - they require the help of a protein
Each facilitator protein is specific to each kind of molecule (like enzymes)
In osmosis, water will always move from areas of higher water concentration to areas of lower concentration
In an isotonic solution, a cell remains normal
In a hypotonic solution, a cell gets very big and swells
In a hypertonic solution, a cell shrivels up
Plant cells are flaccid in isotonic solutions and non-woody plants wilt
Plant cells are turgid and healthiest in hypotonic environments
In hypotonic solutions, plant cell walls expand, but the pressure they exert prevent the cell from taking in too much water and bursting
Plant cells go through plasmolysis in hypertonic solutions