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A-Level Biology OCR A

Oxygen Water Diffusion Bilayer Small Repelled Hydrophobic Interior

Oxygen, being small and nonpolar, diffuses more readily through the phospholipid bilayer than polar water molecules, which experience slight repulsion from the membrane's hydrophobic core.

Oxygen diffuses more easily than water because oxygen is small and non-polar, allowing it to pass through the hydrophobic interior of the phospholipid bilayer. Water, although small, is polar and slightly repelled by this interior.

Front Explain why it is easier for an oxygen molecule to diffuse across a membrane than a water molecule.
Back Diffusion of oxygen vs water:
  • Diffusion across membranes involves particles passing thru the phospholipid bilayer
  • Because oxygen is small and non-polar it will not be repelled by the hydrophobic interior and will be able to pass through the bilayear easily

  • Water is also small but it is polar as it has partially positive and negative charges which will be repelled slightly by the hydrophobic interior of the bilayer making it harder for the molecules to pass through

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