Diffusion

Diffusion refers to the process by which

molecules intermingle as a result of their
kinetic energy of random motion. Consider Index
two containers of gas A and B separated by
a partition. The molecules of both gases are
in constant motion and make numerous
collisions with the partition. If the partition Kinetic
is removed as in the lower illustration, the theory
gases will mix because of the random concepts
velocities of their molecules. In time a
uniform mixture of A and B molecules will Applications
be produced in the container. of kinetic
theory
The tendency toward diffusion is very
strong even at room temperature because Fluid
of the high molecular velocities associated concepts
with the thermal energy of the particles.

Rate of diffusion Osmosis Thermal energy

Energetics of solute diffusion

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 Rate of Diffusion
Since the average kinetic energy of different types of molecules (different
masses) which are at thermal equilibrium is the same, then their average
velocities are different. Their average diffusion rate is expected to depend
Index
upon that average velocity, which gives a relative diffusion rate
Kinetic
theory
concepts

Applications
of kinetic
where the constant K depends upon geometric factors including the area theory
across which the diffusion is occuring. The relative diffusion rate for two
different molecular species is then given by Fluid
concepts

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Osmosis
If two solutions of different concentration are Index
separated by a semi-permeable membrane which
is permeable to to the smaller solvent molecules
but not to the larger solute molecules, then the
solvent will tend to diffuse across the membrane Kinetic
from the less concentrated to the more theory
concentrated solution. This process is called concepts
osmosis.
Applications
Osmosis is of great importance in biological of kinetic
processes where the solvent is water. The theory
transport of water and other molecules across
biological membranes is essential to many Fluid
processes in living organisms. The energy which concepts
drives the process is usually discussed in terms
of osmotic pressure.

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Index
Osmotic Pressure
Kinetic
theory
concepts

Applications
of kinetic
theory

Fluid
concepts
Osmosis is a selective diffusion process driven
by the internal energy of the solvent molecules.
It is convenient to express the available energy
per unit volume in terms of "osmotic pressure".
It is customary to express this tendency toward
solvent transport in pressure units relative to the
pure solvent.

If pure water were on both sides of the

membrane, the osmotic pressure difference
would be zero. But if normal human blood were
on the right side of the membrane, the osmotic
pressure would be about seven atmospheres!
This illustrates how potent the influence of
osmotic pressure is for membrane transport in
living organisms.

The decision about which side of the membrane

to call "high" osmotic pressure is a troublesome
one. The choice made here is the opposite of
that made in many biology texts, which attribute
"high" osmotic pressure to the solution and zero
osmotic pressure to pure water. The rationale for
the choice is that the energy which drives the
fluid transfer is the thermal energy of the water
molecules, and that energy density is higher in
the pure solvent since there are more water
molecules. The thermal energy of the solute
molecules does not contribute to transport,
presuming that the membrane is impermeable to
them. The choice is also influenced by the
observed direction of fluid movement, since
under this choice the fluid transport is from high
"pressure" to low, congruent with normal fluid
flow through pipes from high pressure to low.
The final rationale has to do with the
measurement of osmotic pressure by
determining how much hydrostatic pressure on
the solution is required to prevent the transport
of water from a pure source across a semi-
permeable membrane into the soluton. A
positive pressure must be exerted on the solution
to prevent osmotic transport, again congruent
with the concept that the osmotic pressure of the
pure solvent is relatively "high".
Nevertheless, the dialog continues on this issue
since the discussion of osmosis is most relevant
to the biological and life sciences and perhaps
the logic stated above should yield to the
conventions of the field in which the phenomena
are most relevant.
Measuring osmotic pressure
Calculating osmotic pressure
Osmotic pressure example: egg in syrup

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Measuring Osmotic Pressure

Index

Kinetic
One approach to the measurement of theory
osmotic pressure is to measure the amount concepts
of hydrostatic pressure necessary to prevent
fluid transfer by osmosis. Applications
of kinetic
theory

Fluid
concepts

Membrane transport
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Membrane Transport
The transport of water and other types of molecules across membranes is Index
the key to many processes in living organisms. Many of these transport
processes proceed by diffusion through membranes which are selectively Kinetic
permeable, allowing small molecules to pass but blocking larger ones. theory
These processes, including osmosis and dialysis, are sometimes called concepts
passive transport since they do not require any active role for the
membrane. Other types of transport, called active transport, involve Applications
properties of a cell membrane to selectively "pump" certain types of of kinetic
molecules across the membrane. theory
The transport of gases across membranes depends upon diffusion and the Fluid
solubility of the gases involved. In life science applications such transport concepts
is characterized by Graham's Law and Fick's Law.

More on Cell Membrane transport

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