the meaning of concentration gradient
by

Your answer

Your name to display (optional):
Privacy: Your email address will only be used for sending these notifications.
Anti-spam verification:
To avoid this verification in future, please log in or register.

1 Answer

Concentration gradients describe where the high and low concentrations of particles are. In the example below, simple diffusion moves particles from the left to the right and from high concentration to low concentration until there is balance and the particles are equal everywhere. The particles are said to move in the direction of the concentration gradient from high to low.

In biology, concentration gradients often describe 2 sides of a membrane. There could for example be a high concentration of sodium on the outside of a membrane and low concentration on the inside. Particles tend to want to move toward what is called equilibrium meaning equal concentration on both sides.

In some situations, particles can be moved against their concentration gradient. This requires energy and is known as active transport.

 

Diffusion is the movement of particles from high concentration to low concentration with the concentration gradient.

 

by Level 3 User (8.5k points)

Related questions

1 answer
1 answer
2 answers
asked May 29, 2012 by anonymous | 274 views
1 answer
asked Mar 21, 2012 by anonymous | 455 views
1,290 questions
1,126 answers
30 comments
9,786 users