Motivation difference between osmosis and diffusion
Answers
Table Comparing Diffusion Versus Osmosis
Diffusion Osmosis
Any type of substance moves from area of highest energy or concentration to region of lowest energy or concentration. Only water or another solvent moves from a region of high energy or concentration to a region of lower energy or concentration.
Diffusion can occur in any medium, whether it is liquid, solid, or gas. Osmosis only occurs in a liquid medium.
Diffusion does not require a semipermeable membrane. Osmosis requires a semipermeable membrane.
Concentration of the diffusion substance equalizes to fill the available space. Concentration of solvent does not become equal on both sides of the membrane.
Hydrostatic pressure and turgor pressure to not normally apply to diffusion. Hydrostatic pressure and turgor pressure oppose osmosis.
Does not depend on solute potential, pressure potential, or water potential. Depends on solute potential.
Diffusion mainly depends on the presence of other particles. Osmosis mainly depends on the number of solute particles dissolved in the solvent.
Diffusion is a passive process. Osmosis is also a passive process.
The movement in diffusion is to equalize concentration (energy) throughout the system. The movement in osmosis seeks to equalize solvent concentration (although it does not achieve this).
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.