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Question: 1 / 495

Which process allows small nonpolar molecules to pass through the cell membrane?

Facilitated diffusion

Active transport

Simple diffusion

Small nonpolar molecules pass through the cell membrane primarily through simple diffusion. This process involves the movement of substances from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration without the need for energy. The phospholipid bilayer of the cell membrane is hydrophobic and allows nonpolar molecules, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, to freely move across due to their compatibility with the lipid environment.

In contrast, facilitated diffusion requires specific transport proteins to help polar or charged substances move across the membrane, while active transport utilizes energy to move molecules against their concentration gradient. Osmosis specifically pertains to the movement of water through a semipermeable membrane, not small nonpolar molecules, further solidifying that simple diffusion is the correct process for the passage of small nonpolar molecules.

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