Indicate whether the following compounds are likely to cross a membrane by facilitated or non-facilitated/passive diffusion? Explain. 1. ethanol 2. glycine 3. urea 4. cholesterol 5. ATP
Nonpolar molecules can diffuse through the membrane easily, but polar molecules cannot due to their low solubility in the lipid membrane and thus require proteins that can allow their diffusion across the membrane along the gradient of their movement.
Ethanol, glycine, urea, and ATP(very hydrophilic ) all move across the membrane via the process of facilitated diffusion as these molecules are polar and have very little solubility in the membrane.
Cholesterol on the other hand in nonpolar in nature and can cross the membrane easily by diffusion.
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