AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Facilitated diffusion therefore allows polar and charged molecules, such as carbohydrates, amino acids, nucleosides, and ions, to cross the plasma membrane. Two classes of proteins that mediate facilitated diffusion are generally distinguished: carrier proteins and channel proteins.

Detailed explanation-2: -Facilitated diffusion is the diffusion of solutes through transport proteins in the plasma membrane. Facilitated diffusion is a type of passive transport. Even though facilitated diffusion involves transport proteins, it is still passive transport because the solute is moving down the concentration gradient.

Detailed explanation-3: -Facilitated diffusion (also known as facilitated transport or passive-mediated transport) is the process of spontaneous passive transport (as opposed to active transport) of molecules or ions across a biological membrane via specific transmembrane integral proteins.

Detailed explanation-4: -In simple diffusion, the substance passes between the phospholipids; in facilitated diffusion there are a specialized membrane channels. Charged or polar molecules that cannot fit between the phospholipids generally enter and leave cells through facilitated diffusion.

Detailed explanation-5: -All channel proteins and many carrier proteins allow solutes to cross the membrane only passively (“downhill”), a process called passive transport, or facilitated diffusion.