Term

What are the factors that affect membrane permeability and how do they affect it?

Definition

temperature - high temperature causes phospholipids to move more due to higher kinetic energy, causing the membrane to lose its structure, making it more fluid solvents - non-polar molecules can enter the cell membrane and disrupt its structure, making it more fluid pH - changes in pH disrupts the membrane making it more fluid

Term

What is facilitated diffusion?

Definition

- passive transport process - polar molecules and ions move down the concentration gradient via channel/carrier proteins

Term

What's the difference between channel and carrier proteins?

Definition

channel proteins - form a hydrophilic passage through a membrane, allowing ions and polar molecules to diffuse through carrier proteins - binds to a specific molecule or ion and changes shape to transport it across the membrane