Final answer:
O2 is more likely to diffuse through the lipid bilayer than H2O, benzene diffuses more easily than BenzeneCl-, ethanol more readily than glycerol, and RNA does not diffuse through the bilayer due to its size and charge.
Step-by-step explanation:
Diffusion through the Lipid Bilayer
The lipid bilayer of a cell membrane is selectively permeable, allowing certain molecules to pass through by simple diffusion. Small, uncharged, and hydrophobic molecules can easily diffuse through the bilayer. Based on the properties of molecules and what is known about the bilayer, O2 (oxygen) is more likely to diffuse through the lipid bilayer than H2O (water), even though both are small molecules, because O2 is nonpolar and relatively hydrophobic compared to water. Benzene would diffuse more easily than BenzeneCl- because benzene is hydrophobic and nonpolar, whereas BenzeneCl- is charged. Ethanol, being smaller and less polar than glycerol, would diffuse more readily through the membrane. Additionally, glycerol is larger and more polar than ethanol, which may impede its passage through the membrane. RNA, being a large and charged molecule, would not diffuse through the lipid bilayer, unlike many small hydrophobic or uncharged molecules.