TRUE or FALSE?

1) A cell whose membrane potential is zero is in an ISOTONIC environment

2) Gases enter a cell FASTER than liquids at a given temperature

3) When a plasma membrane has a pressure of zero, passive transport STOPS

1) FALSE. To determine if a cell in a zero membrane potential is in an isotonic environment, we need to understand the concepts of membrane potential and isotonicity. A cell's membrane potential refers to the difference in electric potential between the inside and outside of the cell. An isotonic environment refers to a solution having the same solute concentration as the cell. These two concepts are unrelated.

The membrane potential of a cell can be altered by various factors, such as ion channels and electrochemical gradients. Whether the cell is in an isotonic environment or not does not directly impact its membrane potential. Hence, a cell with a zero membrane potential may or may not be in an isotonic environment. To determine if the environment is isotonic, we would compare the solute concentration of the surrounding solution to that of the cell.

2) FALSE. Gases and liquids exhibit different rates of diffusion based on their properties. Generally, gases diffuse much faster than liquids at a given temperature. The main reason for this is the higher kinetic energy and increased molecular motion of gas molecules compared to liquid molecules. Gas molecules can move more freely and quickly due to their less dense state, enabling faster diffusion.

3) FALSE. Passive transport refers to the movement of substances across the plasma membrane without the input of energy. It can occur through various mechanisms such as diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and osmosis. The pressure of the plasma membrane does not directly influence passive transport. Passive transport will continue to occur as long as there are concentration or electrochemical gradients present, which drive the movement of substances across the membrane.