Question

Water can cross a cell membrane by a variety of means. List at least three. Do water molecules cross a membrane through the same molecules as other solutes? Explain. Are all cells equally permeable to water? Explain_____

Answer 1

Water can cross a cell membrane through diffusion, slipping between lipid tails, and osmosis through a semipermeable membrane. Water molecules do not cross the membrane through the same molecules as other solutes. Not all cells are equally permeable to water.

Step-by-step explanation:

Water can cross a cell membrane through a variety of means. Three ways water molecules can cross a membrane are:

1. Diffusion through protein channels
2. Slipping between the lipid tails of the membrane
3. Osmosis through a semipermeable membrane

Water molecules do not cross a membrane through the same molecules as other solutes. While solutes often cross the cell membrane through protein channels or facilitated diffusion, water molecules have their own specialized protein channels called aquaporins.

Not all cells are equally permeable to water. The permeability of cells to water can vary depending on the presence and number of aquaporins in their membrane, as well as other factors such as cell type and environmental conditions.