Question

Atoms and molecules are in constant, random motion. Movement of any molecule along its concentration gradient is termed ______, and movement of water in the same manner, across a selectively permeable membrane, is called ______.

A) diffusion; osmosis
B) osmosis; diffusion
C) hypertonic; hypotonic
D) isotonic; hypertonic
E) isotonic; osmosis

Answer 1

The correct answer is A) diffusion; osmosis. Diffusion refers to the movement of molecules from an area of higher to lower concentration, while osmosis is the movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane, from a higher water concentration to a lower one.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer to the question is: A) diffusion; osmosis Diffusion is the movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration. It is a process that can involve various substances, including gases and small uncharged molecules, and does not require energy to occur.

Diffusion is prominently observed in both living and nonliving systems, where substances spread out evenly due to their kinetic energy, trying to reach a state of equilibrium, even though molecules keep moving but with no net change in concentration. Thus, when molecules move along their concentration gradient it is known as diffusion and when water does the same, particularly across a selective membrane, it is known as osmosis.