Name _______________________________ *NOTE: Solute = sugar, salt, etc.
Solvent = Water
Diffusion Guided Reading Worksheet (p. 97-98)
Solute = sugar, salt, or anything that dissolves in water
Solvent = Water
1. Cell membranes help organisms maintain __________________ by controlling what
substances may ___________ or ___________ cells.
2. Some substances can cross the cell membrane without any input of energy by the cell in a
process called ______________ ________________.
3. Define diffusion.
4. Describe concentration gradient.
5. Diffusion will eventually cause the molecules to be in equilibrium. What does
equilibrium mean?
6. If a sugar cube is added to a beaker of water, what will eventually happen to the sugar
cube?
7. If a molecule can pass through a cell membrane, it will diffuse from an area of
______________ concentration on one side of the membrane to an area of ______________
concentration on the other side.
8. Diffusion across a membrane is called __________ ____________, and only allows certain
molecules to pass through the membrane.
9. The simple diffusion of a molecule across a cell membrane depends on what three
things? (p. 98)
Name _______________________________ *NOTE: Solute = sugar, salt, etc.
Solvent = Water
10. Molecules that can dissolve in __________ may pass directly through the membrane by
diffusion. (p. 98)
Application Questions (NOT in your textbook)
1. Examine the diagram below. Which cell is most likely to lose both water molecules and
solute molecules as the system approaches equilibrium?
2. Examine the diagram below. In this system, solute molecules in cell 2 are most likely to
diffuse into which cell(s)?
3. In which direction are the water molecules in this system most likely to diffuse? From
Cell 1 to 2? From Cell 2 to 4? From Cell 4 to 3? Or from Cell 3 to 1?