answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

The structure of cell membrane allows nonpolar molecules to diffuse, but not polar molecules. Membrane architecture is in the form of a phospholipid bilayer. A single phospholipid has a "head" composed of a polar NH3 group, and two "tails" composed of nonpolar fatty acids. The lipids spontaneously arrange themselves into bilayers with the hydrophilic heads directed outward, and the hydrophobic tails facing inward. Because nonpolar solvents can only dissolve nonpolar solutes, polar molecules cannot mix with the nonpolar inside of the lipid bilayer. A polar molecule cannot cross the cell's lipid membrane without aid from a carrier protein. While this is true, there are multiple forces that dictate whether or not a molecule can cross a phospholipid membrane, including electrochemical gradients and size. Very small and non-polar molecules have a very easy time crossing the phospholipid bilayer. However, very small, polar molecules like water can also cross the phospholipid bilayer due to hydrostatic pressure and concentration gradient differences. Water will, but with some difficulty because of it's polarity. Aquaporins, protein channels embedded into cellular membranes allow for sufficient amounts of water to diffuse into cells.

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

AnswerBot

6mo ago

Water molecules can pass through the plasma membrane via a process called simple diffusion, where they move across the lipid bilayer. Since water is a polar molecule, it can also travel through specialized channels in the membrane called aquaporins, which facilitate the rapid movement of water in and out of the cell.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

Polar molecules are hydrophylic. Because the inner portion of the phospholipid bilayer (plasma membrane) consists of hydrophobic interactions, generally polar molecules cannot pass directly though. These molecules require protein channels to actively or passively move between the cytosol and the plasma membrane.

Non-polar molecules,due to their hydrophobic, nature can pass directly though the cell membrane.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago

The polar molecule movement across the membrane is because of diffusion. In this process, energy is not required and it occurs in kinetic movement randomly.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How would a polar molecule like water travel through the plasma membrane?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

What ships products to plasma membrane or outside or other organelles?

The endoplasmic reticulum packages and ships products to the plasma membrane, outside the cell, or to other organelles through vesicles. These vesicles bud off from the endoplasmic reticulum and travel to their destination to deliver their cargo.


What is the structure of plasma membrane?

The plasma membrane is composed of a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins, cholesterol molecules, and carbohydrates. The lipid bilayer provides a barrier that separates the cell from its external environment, while the proteins play roles in transport, cell signaling, and cell recognition. Cholesterol helps maintain the fluidity and stability of the membrane, and carbohydrates serve as recognition sites for cell-cell interactions.


What part of the cell acts like a selective filter and determines what goes in and out of the cell?

The cell membrane acts as a selective filter by regulating the passage of molecules in and out of the cell. It is composed of a phospholipid bilayer embedded with proteins that help in the selective transport of substances across the membrane.


Can a certain substance pass across the cell membrane?

Also small molecules.Basically because the cell membrane is amphipathic; a polar head and non-polar tails make up the double layered membrane with non-polar tails sticking inward and polar heads outward. This means that the non-polar middle, the lipid part, does not allow hydrophyllic substances to pass easily through the membrane while non-polar substances can pass through easily. Having to do with charge and solubility.


What are the steps of the secretory pathway?

The secretory pathway involves several steps: 1) Protein synthesis in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER), 2) Protein processing and modification in the Golgi apparatus, 3) Packaging into vesicles, and 4) Secretion of proteins outside the cell via exocytosis.

Related questions

How would a non polar molecule such as a fat or oil travel through the plasma membrane?

The inside of a membrane is "hydrophobic" because of the hydrophobic fatty acid tails of the phospholipids.


What ships products to plasma membrane or outside or other organelles?

The endoplasmic reticulum packages and ships products to the plasma membrane, outside the cell, or to other organelles through vesicles. These vesicles bud off from the endoplasmic reticulum and travel to their destination to deliver their cargo.


Can sound travel through plasma?

Yes, sound can travel through plasma. Plasma is a state of matter in which atoms are ionized, creating a mixture of free electrons and ions that can transmit sound waves by causing oscillations in the density of the charged particles. Sound waves can propagate through plasma in a similar manner to how they do in gases and liquids.


What is the structure of plasma membrane?

The plasma membrane is composed of a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins, cholesterol molecules, and carbohydrates. The lipid bilayer provides a barrier that separates the cell from its external environment, while the proteins play roles in transport, cell signaling, and cell recognition. Cholesterol helps maintain the fluidity and stability of the membrane, and carbohydrates serve as recognition sites for cell-cell interactions.


Osmosis can only if water travels through what?

Osmosis can only occur if water travels through a semi-permeable membrane. This membrane allows water molecules to pass through but restricts the movement of solute particles. Osmosis is the process of water moving from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration to equalize the concentration on both sides of the membrane.


What part of the cell acts like a selective filter and determines what goes in and out of the cell?

The cell membrane acts as a selective filter by regulating the passage of molecules in and out of the cell. It is composed of a phospholipid bilayer embedded with proteins that help in the selective transport of substances across the membrane.


Can a certain substance pass across the cell membrane?

Also small molecules.Basically because the cell membrane is amphipathic; a polar head and non-polar tails make up the double layered membrane with non-polar tails sticking inward and polar heads outward. This means that the non-polar middle, the lipid part, does not allow hydrophyllic substances to pass easily through the membrane while non-polar substances can pass through easily. Having to do with charge and solubility.


What is The path of the photons through the suns plasma is called?

The path of photons through the Sun's plasma is called radiative diffusion. Photons travel through the Sun's plasma by bouncing off charged particles in a random walk pattern until they reach the surface and are emitted as sunlight.


What does it mean for a molecule to be transparent to radiation?

A molecule is transparent to radiation when it allows radiation to pass through it without being absorbed or scattered. In other words, the radiation can travel through the molecule with minimal interaction.


Where waves can travel?

Sound waves can travel through any medium,here medium can be any matter includes solid,liquid,gas,plasma...


If a cell had a radius of 4 inches how long would it take for a molecule to travel from the cell membrane to the cell nucleus using diffusion?

1 second


What is the medium called when blood cells and platelets travel through?

It's a straw-coloured liquid - called plasma.