Question

What are the factors affecting the rate of diffusion?

Answer 1

• Diffusion is the passive movement of substances from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration.
• Diffusion of substances plays an important role in cellular transport in plants.
• Rate of diffusion is affected by

1. concentration gradient,
2. membrane permeability
3. temperature,
4. pressure.

• Diffusion takes place as long as there is a difference between the concentrations of a substance across a barrier.
• However, diffusion stops, when the concentrations of the substance on either side of the barrier become equal.
• The permeability of a membrane affects the rate of diffusion. Diffusion rate increases as membrane permeability increases.
• Changes in temperature and pressure values also affect the diffusion of substances.
• Pressure plays an important role in the diffusion of gases as gases diffuse from a region of higher partial pressure to a region of lower partial pressure.