Question

multiple - choice question oxygen and carbon dioxide are both nonpolar. given the chemical nature of membranes, do you think these molecules would cross the membrane easily or would they require a transporter? they would require a transporter because they cannot cross the polar fatty acid tails of the membrane phospholipid bilayer. they would diffuse easily across the membrane without a transporter because they can cross the nonpolar fatty acid tails of the membrane phospholipid bilayer.

Explanation:

Cell membranes have a phospholipid - bilayer structure with non - polar fatty acid tails in the interior. Non - polar molecules like oxygen and carbon dioxide can easily diffuse through this non - polar region of the membrane without the need for a transporter.

Answer:

They would diffuse easily across the membrane without a transporter because they can cross the nonpolar fatty acid tails of the membrane phospholipid bilayer.