Question

How does passive transport work?

Answer 1

Passive transport:

1. Passive membrane transport is the most direct method of membrane transport.
2. Passive transport is a natural phenomenon in which a molecule travels without using any energy (in the form of ATP). Passive transfer transports substances from a high-concentration area to a low-concentration area. A concentration gradient is a physical space containing a range of concentrations of a single substance.
3. Diffusion and osmosis are passive modes of transport that transfer low-molecular-weight molecules through membranes.
4. Substances diffuse from high- to low-concentration locations, and the process is repeated until the material is uniformly distributed throughout the system.
5. Each type of molecule diffuses according to its own concentration gradient in solutions containing many substances, irrespective of the diffusion of other chemicals.
6. The rate of diffusion is affected by a number of elements including the concentration gradient, for example: the size of the diffusing particles, and the temperature of the system.
7. In biological systems, the plasma membrane regulates the flow of substances into and out of cells.
8. Some elements move through the membrane easily, while others are obstructed; their passage is facilitated by specialized proteins like channels and transporters.