Question

What is the difference between osmosis and diffusion?

Osmosis is a kind of diffusion that involves movement of water.


Diffusion uses energy, but osmosis does not.


Diffusion only occurs in animal cells, and osmosis only occurs in plant cells.


Osmosis is movement of proteins, and diffusion is movement of water.

Answer 1

Osmosis is a special case of diffusion. Water, like other substances, moves from an area of higher concentration to one of lower concentration. ... In this example, the solute cannot diffuse through the membrane, but the water can. Water has a concentration gradient in this system.

Answer 2

Osmosis is the movement of solvent particles across a semipermeable membrane from a dilute solution into a concentrated solution. ... 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.