Mesophyll Carbon Dioxide Diffusion
The figure below shows:
- A mesophyll cell in a leaf next to a leaf air space
- The concentration of CO2 in the mesophyll cell and leaf air space (ppm)
- Carbon dioxide molecules represented by white circles
- One carbon dioxide molecule labeled “X"
After the initial conditions shown above, the system rapidly reaches equilibrium where there is the same concentration of carbon dioxide molecules in the mesophyll cell and the leaf air space.
a. Where would you predict the carbon dioxide molecule labeled “X” will be found just before equilibrium is reached?
A. In the mesophyll cell
B. In the leaf air space
C. Cannot predict
b. Explain your reasoning about where the carbon dioxide molecule labeled “X” would be located just before equilibrium is reached.
c. Where would you predict the carbon dioxide molecule labeled “X” would be located after equilibrium is reached?
A. In the mesophyll cell
B. In the leaf air space
C. Cannot predict
d. Explain your reasoning about where the carbon dioxide molecule labeled “X” would be located after equilibrium is reached.