Question

Why does glucose transport require facilitated diffusion instead of diffusion?

Answer 1

Answer and explanation;

• Glucose is extremely polar and fairly large compared to salt ions or gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide. Therefore, it can not freely diffuse in and out of the cell like other small ions and molecules or gases.
• Therefore, glucose molecules require transporters that either use energy directly or indirectly through concentration gradients set up by other energy-dependent transporters.
• Facilitated diffusion is the process where substances pass through the cell membrane, in a passive manner, with the help of transport molecules. Glucose is among the substances transported using facilitated diffusion.