Final answer:
Electrolytes require facilitated diffusion through specific membrane proteins to cross cell membranes due to their ionic charge, whereas nonelectrolytes can diffuse without such assistance. Both processes are forms of passive transport and occur down a concentration gradient.
Step-by-step explanation:
The energetic difference between the diffusion of an electrolyte and a nonelectrolyte across a membrane is primarily based on the ability of electrolytes to dissociate into ions when dissolved in water, as opposed to nonelectrolytes. Electrolytes such as sodium ions (Na+) require facilitated diffusion through membrane proteins to move across the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane due to their charge. However, nonelectrolytes, which do not carry a charge, can diffuse more freely without the need for such transport proteins. The diffusion process for both electrolytes and nonelectrolytes is a form of passive transport and does not require energy from the cell.
Osmosis and dialysis-diffusion are also significant in the context of membranes. Osmosis refers to the movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane, while dialysis-diffusion pertains to the selective movement of solutes across such barriers. This movement is driven by the concentration gradient, moving from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration until equilibrium is reached.