Question

Define diffusion and facilitated diffusion.

Answer 1

The movement of particles from region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration is called Diffusion.

Facilitated transport in a membrane involves a chemical agent as a carrier to increase the rate of transport. A chemical agent can react reversibly with a permanent and yields high selectivity and permeability, which makes facilitated transport a very selective separation technique. The chemical agent carries the substance in the form of a carrier-bound substance; the carrier releases the substance on the other side of the membrane due to chemical conditions (mainly pH and electric charge) and diffuses back.

Answer 2

Definition of diffusion and Facilitated diffusion

Diffusion:

• The mode of movement in which the substance passes through the phospholipid bi layer, without the involvement of any integral membrane protein, is called diffusion.
• The substances such as carbon dioxide, oxygen, etc can pass through the membrane through diffusion.

Facilitated diffusion:

• The mode of movement in which substances requires the assistance of membrane proteins to move in and out of the trans-membrane system, it is called facilitated diffusion.
• This type of mechanism is utilized by the substance which is very huge in size.