Diffusion Many things will impact how much and how quickly a substance will diffuse across a membrane. Use this gizmo to investigate the factors that affect diffusion. How do Membrane Permeability and Temperature Affect Diffusion?

How do Membrane Permeability and Temperature Affect Diffusion?

Membrane permeability and temperature play a key role in the diffusion of molecules across a membrane. Diffusion is the process of molecules moving from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. The two main factors that determine how much and how quickly a substance will diffuse across a membrane are the permeability of the membrane and the temperature of the environment. Membrane permeability is the measure of how effectively molecules can pass through the membrane (Brown, 2016). If the membrane has a high permeability, then the molecules will pass through the membrane more quickly and with greater ease than molecules passing through a membrane with lower permeability. This is due to the fact that membranes with a high permeability have larger pores or openings that allow for molecules to pass through more easily. On the other hand, if the membrane has a low permeability, then the molecules will have a harder time passing through, thus slowing the rate of diffusion. Temperature also has a direct impact on the rate of diffusion. In general, as the temperature increases, the rate of diffusion increases as well. This is because an increase in temperature causes the molecules to move around more quickly and with greater energy, allowing them to pass through the membrane more quickly (Brown, 2016). On the other hand, if the temperature drops, then the rate of diffusion will decrease as the molecules are moving more. Cont…