Final answer:
Concentration differences drive diffusion and osmosis, with molecules moving from areas of higher concentration to lower until equilibrium is reached, which is crucial for cellular functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference in concentration significantly affects the diffusion and osmosis processes, both forms of passive transport. Diffusion is the movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration until there is an equal distribution throughout a system. Each molecule type diffuses according to its own concentration gradient, largely independent of other substances.
Osmosis, a special case of diffusion, refers specifically to the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane because of a concentration difference. Water moves from an area where water molecules are more concentrated (and solute molecules are less so) to one where water molecules are less concentrated (and solute molecules are more so). This process continues until the concentration levels of water are equal on both sides or until the osmotic pressure is balanced by the hydrostatic pressure. Osmosis is crucial for maintaining cellular functions and is constantly occurring in living systems.