Applications of diffusion:

1. 2. 3. 4.
• Amoeba gets its • Carbon dioxide, • Digested food • Oxygen from the
oxygen from the which is needed substances such lungs diffuses
environment by by the plant for as glucose enter across the
diffusion. photosynthesis, the villi (tiny alveolar wall, by
Dissolved in the air enters a projections dissolving in a
oxygen from leaf cell through formed by the layer of moisture
water diffuses the stomata by walls of the small lining the alveolar
through the cell diffusion down a intestine) of the wall, into the
surface concentration small intestine by surrounding
membrane down gradient. diffusion down a blood capillary
a concentration • Oxygen, which is concentration down a
gradient. a waste product gradient, to enter concentration
• It also removes of the blood gradient. Oxygen
carbon dioxide it photosynthesis, is vessels. will bind with the
produces by released into the haemoglobin in
diffusion by air from the the red blood cell
diffusing out of stomata down a to be transported
the cell surface concentration to the rest of the
membrane into gradient. body.
the water down a • Carbon dioxide,
concentration produced by
gradient. cells, will diffuse
from the blood
capillary into the
alveolus down a
concentration
gradient.

1. Cells in a solution of HIGH and LOW water potential

Solution of high water potential: Solution of higher water potential:

- Cell sap in vacuole has a lower water potential
as compared to the solution outside the cell.
- Water moves in by osmosis.
- Vacuole expands, pushing the cell contents
against the cell wall.
- As cell wall is strong and relatively inelastic, it
prevents the cell from over expanding and
finally bursting by exerting an opposing force.
- Thus, plant cell becomes turgid.
- The pressure exerted by the water on the cell
wall is called turgor pressure.
Solution of low water potential:
- Cell sap in vacuole has a higher water potential
as compared to the solution outside the cell.
- Water leaves the cell by osmosis.
- Vacuole shrinks and cytoplasm shrinks away
from the cell wall.
- Cytosol of cell is hypertonic (of lower water potential)
as compared to the solution of higher water
potential.
- Water moves into cell by osmosis.
- Animal cell will swell and may even burst (as it does
not have a cell wall to protect it).
- Process: Haemolysis
Solution of lower water potential:
- Cytosol of cell is hypotonic (of higher water potential)
as compared to the solution of lower water potential.
- Water moves out of cell by osmosis.
- Animal cell will shrink and little spikes will appear on
the cell surface membrane.
- It will become dehydrated and die eventually.
- Process: Crenation

Process: Plasmolysis