Question

Differentiate Between The Following
1 Diffusion and Osmosis
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Answer 1

Answer:

What is the difference between osmosis

and diffusion?

Students are often asked to explain the similarities and differences between osmosis and

diffusion or to compare and contrast the two forms of transport. To answer the

question, you need to know the definitions of osmosis and diffusion and really

understand what they mean.

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 the 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 Examples

Examples of Osmosis: Examples of osmosis include red blood cells swelling up when

exposed to fresh water and plant root hairs taking up water. To see an easy

demonstration of osmosis, soak gummy candies in water. The gel of the candies acts as a

semipermeable membrane.

Examples of Diffusion: Examples of diffusion include perfume filling a whole room and

the movement of small molecules across a cell membrane. One of the simplest

demonstrations of diffusion is adding a drop of food coloring to water. Although other

transport processes do occur, diffusion is the key player.

Osmosis And Diffusion Similarities

Osmosis and diffusion are related processes that display similarities. Both osmosis and

diffusion equalize the concentration of two solutions. Both diffusion and osmosis are

passive transport processes, which means they do not require any input of extra energy

to occur. In both diffusion and osmosis, particles move from an area of higher

concentration to one of lower concentration.

Osmosis And Diffusion Differences

Diffusion can occur in any mixture, including one that 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.

Key Points

Diffusion and osmosis are both passive transport processes that act to equalize the

concentration of a solution.

In diffusion, particles move from an area of higher concentration to one of lower

concentration until equilibrium is reached. In osmosis, a semipermeable membrane is

present, so only the solvent molecules are free to move to equalize concentration

Answer 2

The main difference between the two is that diffusion can occur in any mixture, even when two solutions aren't separated by a semipermeable membrane, whereas osmosis exclusively occurs across a semipermeable membrane.