An investigation to show the effects of temperature on the rate of diffusion

Authors Avatar

An investigation to show the effects of temperature on the rate of diffusion

Aim:

This experiment aims to determine what effects temperature has on the rate of diffusion on the plasma membrane of a beetroot sample.

Hypothesis:

Evidence found from earlier research has shown that as temperature increases, the plasma membrane breaks which causes the cytoplasm, and other substances contained within the membrane to leak out. This causes the colour pigment to be released. The rate at which the colour pigment is dependent on the temperature of the solute for example higher temperature means diffusion occurs more quickly.

Background Research:

Substances are exchanged between cells and their surroundings, across cell surface membrane. Cells obtain their requirements to function by allowing molecules to move across membranes through methods such as diffusion.

Diffusion is the process by which a substance moves from a region of high concentration, to a low concentration of the same substance. Diffusion can also be defined as the net movement of molecules or ions from a region of high concentration to an area of low concentration through a partially permeable membrane. The molecules move down a concentration gradient.

The rate of diffusion is affected by several factors:

1} The concentration gradient of the substance effects the rate of diffusion. If the concentration is greater between the two regions, then the rate of diffusion is also increased.

2} The distance over which diffusion takes place, the shorter the distance between the two regions of different concentration the greater the rate of diffusion. The rate can then be said directly proportional to the diameter of the organism.

Join now!

3} the area over which diffusion takes place. The larger the surface area then the more molecules or ions can travel at any one time, therefore the faster the rate of diffusion.

4} Variations in the cells membrane may affect diffusion as well. Diffusion takes place across epithelial layers or cell membranes. For example the greater the number and size of pores in cell membranes the greater the rate of diffusion.

5) The nature of the molecules or ions. Large molecules require more energy to get them moving than small ones. Large molecules diffuse more slowly than ...

This is a preview of the whole essay