Question

1. what factors determine how quickly particles can reach equilibrium? 10. what factors limited the diffusion of particles through the membrane? 11. why do particles move down a concentration gradient?

Explanation:

1. Factors include concentration gradient magnitude, particle size and mass, temperature (higher temp speeds up movement), and medium viscosity.
2. Membrane - pore size (if too small, large particles can't pass), particle charge (opposite - charged membranes may repel or attract), lipid - solubility of the particle (lipid - soluble particles pass more easily through lipid - based membranes), and presence of transport proteins (facilitate or limit diffusion).
3. Particles move down a concentration gradient due to the random motion of particles (Brownian motion). There is a higher probability of particles moving from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration to achieve a state of equilibrium, which is a more stable state in terms of entropy.

Answer:

1. Concentration gradient, particle size/mass, temperature, medium viscosity.
2. Membrane pore size, particle charge, lipid - solubility, transport proteins.
3. Due to random motion and entropy - driven tendency to equilibrium.