Diffusion

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Diffusion

It is the spreading out of particles of a gas or of any substance in a solution

The result is the net movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration

It happens because of the random movement of particles 

The motion of particles causes them to bump into each other

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Rates of Diffusion

If there is a big difference in concentration between two areas, diffusion will take place quickly

Many particles will move randomly towards the area of low concentration

Net Movement = Particles moving in - particles moving out

the difference between the two areas of concentration is called the concentration gradient 

diffusion ocurrs down a concentration gradient 

temperature also affects the rate of diffusion 

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Diffusion in living Organisms

Dissolved substances move into and out of your cells by diffusion across the cell membrane

these include sugars such as glucose, gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide and waste producs such as urea from the breakdown of amino acids in your liver

the oxygen you need for respiration passes from the air in your lungs into your red blood cells through the cell membranes by diffusion

the diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide in opposite directsion in the lungs is known as gas exchange

idicidual cells may be adapted to make diffusion easier and more rapid. The most common adaption is to increase the surface area of the cell membrane 

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