Home › AP Biology › Biology › Structure and Function of Plasma Membranes › All else being equal, heavier molecules diffuse:
All else being equal, heavier molecules diffuse:
AMore slowly
BMore quickly
CAt the same rate
DOnly upward
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. More slowly
1. Diffusion rate depends on several factors, one of which is the mass of the moving particle.
2. A heavier particle is harder to accelerate at a given temperature.
3. Heavier molecules move more slowly, therefore they diffuse more slowly.
4. The reverse is true for lighter molecules.
_Source: OpenStax Biology for AP(R) Courses (CC BY 4.0), Ch 5 'Structure and Function of Plasma Membranes', sections 5.1-5.4_
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