In passive transport the movement of particles across a membrane requires energy

The Elements of Life

In biology, the elements of life are the essential building blocks that make up living things. They are carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur. The first four of these are the most important, as they are used to construct the molecules that are necessary to make up living cells. These elements form the basic building blocks of the major macromolecules of life, including carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and proteins. Carbon is an important element for all living organisms, as it is used to construct the basic building blocks of life, such as carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. Even the cell membranes are made of proteins. Carbon is also used to construct the energy-rich molecules adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and guanosine triphosphate (GTP). Hydrogen is used to construct the molecules water and organic compounds with carbon. Hydrogen is also used to construct ATP and GTP. Nitrogen is used to construct the basic building blocks of life, such as amino acids, nucleic acids, and proteins. It is also used to construct ATP and GTP. Oxygen is used to construct the basic building blocks of life, such as carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. It is also used to construct ATP and GTP. Phosphorus is used to construct the basic building blocks of life, such as carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids.

Active transport is the movement of molecules across a membrane from a region of lower concentration to a region of higher concentration against the concentration gradient, often assisted by enzymes and requires energy”

Passive transport is the movement of ions and molecules across the cell membrane without requiring energy.”

Active and passive transport are the two main biological processes that play a crucial role in supplying nutrients, oxygen, water and other essential molecules to the cells along with the elimination of waste products. In essence, active and passive transport work for the same goals/ purposes, but with different movement.

Let us see how active and passive transport are different from each other.

In passive transport the movement of particles across a membrane requires energy

Difference Between Active And Passive Transport

Following are the important difference between active and passive transport:

Active Transport Passive Transport
Requires cellular energy. Does not require cellular energy.
It circulates from a region of lower concentration to a region of higher concentration It circulates from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration
Required for the transportation of all the molecules such as proteins, large cells, complex sugars, ions, etc. Required for the transportation of all soluble molecules, including oxygen, water, carbon dioxide, lipids, sex hormones, etc.
It transports various molecules in the cell. It is involved in the maintenance of the equilibrium level inside the cell.
Active transport is a dynamic process. Passive Transport is a physical process.
It is highly selective. It is partly non-selective
Active transport is a rapid process. Passive transport is a comparatively slow process.
Transpires in one direction. Transpires bidirectionally.
Active transportation is influenced by temperature. Passive transportation is not influenced by temperature.
In active transport, carrier proteins are required In passive transport, carrier proteins are not required
This process reduces or halts as the oxygen content level is reduced. This process is not affected by the level of oxygen content.
Metabolic inhibitors can influence and stop active transport. Passive transportation is not influenced by metabolic inhibitors.
Different types of Active Transport are –
Exocytosis, endocytosis,  sodium-potassium pump
Different types of Passive Transport are – Osmosis, diffusion, and facilitated diffusion

Active Transport

This is the biological process in which molecules move against the concentration gradient and require chemical energy to move biochemical compounds from a lower region to the high region. Therefore, this process uses ATP – Adenosine triphosphate to pump molecules through a concentration gradient. Complex sugar, ions, large cells, proteins and other particles are transported in this process. There are two types of Active transport:

  1. Primary Active transport
  2. Secondary Active transport

Exocytosis, endocytosis and sodium-potassium pump are a few examples of active transport. The process of endocytosis and exocytosis are utilized by all the cells for transportation of molecules which cannot passively permeate via the membrane.

  • Endocytosis is the process of active transportation of molecules into the cells by the action of engulfing it along with its membrane.
  • Exocytosis produces a counter function thereby forcing molecules out of the cell. The process of homeostasis facilitates an equal flow of molecules in and out of a cell which confers that the number of molecules that enter the cell through endocytosis equates to the number of molecules that exits a cell through the process of exocytosis. Both the processes assure that nutrients and wastes are balanced for the smooth functioning of the cells.

Main Article: Active Transport.

Passive Transport

In this biological process, energy is not required for transporting the molecules, as the biochemicals move from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration. All particles which are easily soluble are transported through passive transport. This process is carried out to maintain the balance and the equilibrium level in a cell. All the waste molecules including, water and carbon dioxide is separated and moved out of the cell using passive transport. Meanwhile, nutrients like oxygen that are functional for the cell are diffused in this process. Osmosis, diffusion and facilitated diffusion are some of the examples of passive transport.

Main Article: Passive Transport

Key Points on Active and Passive Transport

  • Active transport requires energy for the movement of molecules whereas passive transport does not require energy for the movement of molecules.
  • In active transport, the molecules move against the concentration gradient whereas in passive transport, the molecules move along the concentration gradient.
  • Uptake of glucose in the human intestine works on the principle of active transport.
  • Simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, osmosis and filtration are examples of passive transport.

Know more about active and passive transport and the difference between the two only at BYJU’S Biology

In passive transport the movement of particles across a membrane requires energy

Frequently Asked Questions

How is active transport different from passive transport?

Active transport moves molecules and ions from lower concentration to higher concentration with the help of energy in the form of ATP. On the other hand, passive transport moves molecules and ions from a higher concentration to lower concentration without any energy.

What is the role of ATP in active transport?

ATP hydrolysis provides energy for the movement of molecules and ions across a concentration gradient. The movement of molecules occurs either inside the cells (endocytosis) or out of the cells (exocytosis).

Mention two examples of active and passive transport.

Examples of active transport include sodium-potassium pump, uptake of mineral ions by the roots of the plants, etc. Whereas, the examples of passive transport include the exchange of gases in the alveoli of the lungs and the exchange of nutrients in the kidneys.

What is the importance of active and passive transport?

Active and passive transport regulate the entry and exit of ions and molecules in a cell. These processes allow only specific materials to cross spontaneously through the cell membrane. Rest need a carrier to pass through the membrane.

What are the different types of passive transport?

Passive transport can be of the following different types:

  • Simple diffusion
  • Osmosis
  • Facilitated diffusion

Does passive transport require energy?

Passive transport, most commonly by diffusion, occurs along a concentration gradient from high to low concentration. No energy is necessary for this mode of transport.

Does movement across the membrane require energy?

Passive transport occurs when substances cross the plasma membrane without any input of energy from the cell. No energy is needed because the substances are moving from an area where they have a higher concentration to an area where they have a lower concentration.

What is required for passive transport to occur across a membrane?

Passive transport is a type of membrane transport that does not require energy to move substances across cell membranes. Instead of using cellular energy, like active transport, passive transport relies on the second law of thermodynamics to drive the movement of substances across cell membranes.

Is energy ATP required in passive transport?

area with lower concentration. The difference between the concentrations is called the “concentration gradient”. Diffusion goes down the gradient until an equilibrium is reached.