Is the plasma membrane permeable to glucose or starch?
i believe it is glucose.
Since this is not my area of expertise, I searched Google under the key words "permeable plasma membrane glucose starch" to get these possible sources:
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http://www.biologyjunction.com/ap_lab1_osmosis_sample4.htm
http://thecaverns.netfirms.com/essays/diffusionlab.htm
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In the future, you can find the information you desire more quickly, if you use appropriate key words to do your own search. Also see http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/.
I hope this helps a little more. Thanks for asking.
The plasma membrane, also known as the cell membrane, acts as a barrier to control the movement of substances in and out of the cell. In terms of glucose and starch, the permeability of the plasma membrane depends on their molecular size and properties.
Glucose is a small molecule, and the plasma membrane is permeable to glucose. It means that glucose can pass through the membrane freely by a process called simple diffusion.
On the other hand, starch is a large molecule composed of many glucose units joined together. Due to its size and complexity, starch cannot freely pass through the plasma membrane. Starch needs to be broken down into its constituent glucose molecules before it can cross the membrane. This breakdown process occurs outside the cell, typically through the action of enzymes, and the resulting glucose molecules can then enter the cell by simple diffusion.
To summarize, the plasma membrane is permeable to glucose but not to starch. Glucose molecules can pass through the membrane freely, while starch needs to be broken down into glucose before it can cross the membrane.