Question

Look at the information below. In what direction will the carbon dioxide move?

a. Into the cell
b. Out of the cell
c. No movement
d. It depends on other factors

Answer 1

Carbon dioxide will move out of the cell due to simple diffusion, moving from a higher concentration inside the cell to a lower concentration outside in the interstitial fluid.

Step-by-step explanation:

In what direction will the carbon dioxide move? The carbon dioxide (CO2) will move out of the cell. This process occurs because the concentration of CO2 is higher within the cytoplasm as a byproduct of metabolism. According to principles of diffusion, molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. In this case, CO2, being a small nonpolar molecule, will freely travel across the phospholipid bilayer of the plasma cell membrane and into the interstitial fluid where its concentration is lower. This is a form of passive transport known as simple diffusion.