levo

Key Concepts in Biology

Diffusion, osmosis and active transport

  • 3 things to know
  • Papers 1 and 2

Overview

Diffusion as net movement down a concentration gradient without energy, the factors that increase its rate, osmosis through a partially permeable membrane and water entering root hair cells, and active transport against a gradient using carrier proteins and energy from respiration to take up mineral ions.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Key term

Define osmosis and active transport, and describe how water crosses the membrane of a root hair cell.

Key term

Define diffusion.

Key term

Explain why diffusion does not require the cell to use energy.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Define diffusion.

    Model answer

    Diffusion is the net movement of particles from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration.

  2. 2

    Explain why diffusion does not require the cell to use energy.

    Model answer

    Particles move by their own random motion down the concentration gradient, so no energy from respiration is needed.

  3. 3

    Name two substances that move into or out of a respiring cell by diffusion.

    Model answer

    Oxygen diffuses into the cell and carbon dioxide diffuses out of it.

  4. 4

    State three factors that increase the rate of diffusion into a cell.

    Model answer

    A steeper concentration gradient, a larger surface area and a shorter diffusion distance all increase the rate.

  5. 5

    Define osmosis.

    Model answer

    Osmosis is the net movement of water molecules from a dilute solution to a concentrated solution through a partially permeable membrane.

  6. 6

    Explain why a partially permeable membrane is essential for osmosis.

    Model answer

    It lets water molecules through but holds back the larger dissolved solute molecules, so only water can move to even out the concentrations.

Other ways to work this

The same content, four other ways.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

1Closed book
2Open book
3Closed book

See a huge jump in your memorisation

Answer cold, learn it, then prove it stuck. Levo tracks the jump between your first attempt and your last.

Key Concepts in Biology
Cells and Control
Genetics
Natural Selection and Genetic Modification

Cram a whole paper in one sitting

Sort every topic into what you know and what you do not, then drill only the weak ones.

Type 2 .
diabetescancercholera

Blank Blitz consolidates the facts

Rapid timed gap-fills on the terms and numbers you need to recall without thinking.

ANitrates cause an algal bloom that blocks the light.
BWater plants die and decay.
CThe decomposers use up the dissolved oxygen.

Build It trains answer structure

Assemble a full-mark answer from its marking points, in the order an examiner wants them.

A millimetre is 10⁻³ of a metre.
TrueFalse

Test It catches misconceptions

Spot the fault in a statement. The traps are the mistakes students actually make.

721941163128510

Brain Breaks between sessions

Short focus games to reset attention, so the next set lands better than the last.

Every question in Key Concepts in Biology, on a schedule.

Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.

Or £46 a year, about £3.83 a month. Cancel anytime.