Question

How is osmosis different from diffusion

Answer 1

Osmosis is the movement of water through a semipermeable membrane, while diffusion is the movement of molecules or particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Step-by-step explanation:

Osmosis is the movement of water through a semi-permeable membrane according to the water's concentration gradient across the membrane, which is inversely proportional to the solutes' concentration. While diffusion transports material across membranes and within cells, osmosis transports only water across a membrane and the membrane limits the solutes' diffusion in the water.

Diffusion, on the other hand, is the movement of molecules or particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. It occurs in gases, liquids, and solids, and does not require a membrane.

Answer 2

Diffusion is a spontaneous process in which molecules move with their concentration gradient. For example, if you place food coloring in water, the food coloring will slowly diffuse through the water until the entire solution has been balanced.

Osmosis is specifically the movement of water through a semipermeable membrane - meaning a membrane that can let some substances in but keep others out - and, similar to diffusion, it moves with its concentration gradient. For example, if you place a glucose solution sealed in plastic in water, water will move into the plastic to even out the concentration of glucose in the entire solution because glucose is too large to diffuse freely.

Hope this helped!