Question

Difference between osmosis and diffusion

Answer 1

Osmosis and Diffusion Definitions

Osmosis: Osmosis is the movement of solvent particles across a semipermeable membrane from a dilute solution into a concentrated solution.The solvent moves to dilute the concentrated solution and equalize concentration on both sides of the membrane.

Diffusion: Diffusion is the movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to lower concentration. The overall effect is to equalize concentration throughout the medium.
Osmosis and Diffusion Differences

• Diffusion can occur in any mixture, including one which includes a semipermeable membrane, while osmosis always occurs across a semipermeable membrane.

• When people discuss osmosis in biology, it always refers to the movement of water. In chemistry,

• it's possible for other solvents to be involved. In biology, this is a difference between the two processes.

• One big difference between osmosis and diffusion is that both solvent and solute particles are free to move in diffusion, but when we talk about osmosis, only the solvent molecules (water molecules) cross the membrane.

• This can be confusing to understand because while the solvent particles are moving from higher to lower solvent concentration across the membrane, they are moving from lower to higher solute concentration (from a more dilute solution to a region of more concentrated solution).

• This occurs naturally because the system seeks balance or equilibrium. If the solute particles can't cross a barrier, the only way to equalize concentration on both sides of the membrane is for the solvent particles to move in.

• You can consider osmosis to be a special case of diffusion in which diffusion occurs across a semipermeable membrane and only the water or other solvent moves.