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Multiple Choice
Which of the following scenarios demonstrates active transport?
A
Glucose enters a cell through a channel protein down its concentration gradient.
B
A cell uses ATP to pump sodium ions ($\mathrm{Na^+}$) out against their concentration gradient.
C
Oxygen diffuses from an area of high concentration to low concentration across a cell membrane.
D
Water moves into a cell by osmosis.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the concept of active transport. Active transport is a process where molecules or ions are moved across a cell membrane against their concentration gradient (from low to high concentration) using energy, typically in the form of ATP.
Step 2: Analyze the first scenario: 'Glucose enters a cell through a channel protein down its concentration gradient.' This describes facilitated diffusion, not active transport, because it occurs down the concentration gradient and does not require energy.
Step 3: Analyze the second scenario: 'A cell uses ATP to pump sodium ions ($\mathrm{Na^+}$) out against their concentration gradient.' This is an example of active transport because it involves moving sodium ions against their concentration gradient using ATP as an energy source.
Step 4: Analyze the third scenario: 'Oxygen diffuses from an area of high concentration to low concentration across a cell membrane.' This describes simple diffusion, which does not require energy and occurs down the concentration gradient, so it is not active transport.
Step 5: Analyze the fourth scenario: 'Water moves into a cell by osmosis.' Osmosis is the passive movement of water across a membrane down its concentration gradient, so it is not active transport.