Final answer:
The random movement of particles such as O2, CO2, or H2O across a membrane without energy use is called passive transport. When transport proteins assist molecules across the membrane, the process is called facilitated diffusion. The diffusion of water is known as osmosis, and a concentration gradient occurs when particle concentrations vary across different areas.
Step-by-step explanation:
The random movement of particles such as O2, CO2, or H2O across the membrane is called passive transport. This process does not require energy and happens when particles move from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration to reach an equilibrium. When transport proteins are required to move particles across the membrane, the process is known as facilitated diffusion. These transport proteins help to move substances that would not be able to diffuse through the membrane freely.
The diffusion of water across a membrane is referred to as osmosis. It is a special case of diffusion for water molecules, moving from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration. Lastly, a concentration gradient forms when there is a higher concentration of particles in one area of a container compared to another, driving the movement of molecules from high to low concentration.