SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS

1. Differentiate passive transport from active transport system. Give examples.

Answer:
Active transport is the energy requiring transport of a substance across the cell membrane
usually against the concentration gradient. On the other hand, Passive Transport is the
movement of fluids solutes and/or other materials w/out the expenditure of energy. Some
examples of active transport are endocytosis, exocytosis and the use of a cell membrane
pump; diffusion, osmosis and facilitated diffusion are all examples of passive transport.
2. Is energy always associated with biochemical processes? Justify your answer.
Answer:
Yes. Energy is the capacity to do work; it makes the biochemical process more effective
and necessary. Our cells will not function well without energy. Energy is crucial because
it almost makes all life on earth possible. For instance, in the process of photosynthesis,
plants capture the energy in sunlight and convert it into chemical bonds in glucose. The
plants and the organisms that eat plants use the energy from glucose to form ATP. The
energy from the breakdown of ATP fuels is the chemical reaction of life. We all make use
of energy to do work and for these biochemical processes to function or work properly.
3. Discuss the movement of Na+ and K+ ions in the cell
Answer:
Na+ ions from inside the cell bind to the Na+ -K + pump. The pump changes shape,
transporting the 3 Na+ ions across the cell membrane and releases them on the outside of
the cell membrane. Then, the pump is exposed to the outside surface of the cell. 2 K +
ions from outside the cell bind to the pump and the pump changes shape again. The K +
ions are transported across the cell membrane and are released inside the cell

During this process, ATP is split into ADP and inorganic phosphate. The breaking
of this bond releases energy to power the pump.

Overall, because 3 positively charged ions LEFT the cell and ONLY 2 positively
charged ions ENTERED the cell, a charge gradient develops across the cell membrane
such that the outside of the cell has more positive charge and the inside of the cell has
more negative charge.
4. What is osmotic pressure? Give and differentiate the three types of osmotic pressures.
Answer:
Osmotic pressure is a colligative property, meaning that the osmotic pressure depends on
the molar concentration of the solute but not on its identity.
Three types of osmotic pressure: isotonic, hypotonic and hypertonic. In an isotonic
solution, osmosis does not occur because there is no concentration gradient present. The
amount of water in the salt solution is the same as in the cytoplasm. In a hypotonic
solution the total molar concentration of all dissolved solute particles is less than that of
another solution or less than that of a cell. It means that there is a lower concentration of
solutes outside the cell than inside the cell so, the tendency of water is to go inside or
rush into the cell causing the cell to swell or burst. A hypertonic solution is one with a

higher concentration of solutes outside the cell than inside the cell. When a cell is
immersed into a hypertonic solution, the tendency is for water to flow out of the cell in
order to balance the concentration of the solutes. Likewise, the cytosol of the cell is
conversely categorized as hypotonic, opposite of the outer solution.
REFERENCES:
Pearson. Hypotonic solution. Retrieved from
http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/biocoach/biomembrane1/hypoto
nic.html
Wallace, Robert A., Sanders, Gerald P., and Ferl, Robert J. (1991). Biology: The Science
Of Life p. G-1 and G-31
Wikipedia
the
Free
Encyclopedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonicity

Tonicity.

Retrieved

from

Ramos John Donnie A. et al. 2012 Biology Exploring life through science second edition.
927 Quezon Avenue, Quezon City. Philippines. Phoenix Publishing House, INC.