Question

Which of the following describes the process of diffusion?

A. It is the movement of substances from a solid to liquid state.
B. It is the movement of a substance from high concentration to low concentration.
C. It requires a large amount of energy.
D. It is specific to the movement of water only.

Answer 1

Diffusion is the passive process in which substances move from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration until equilibrium is reached. It does not require energy and can occur with various substances and in different states of matter.

Step-by-step explanation:

Diffusion is the passive process of transport where a substance moves from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration until the concentration is equal across a space. It involves the movement of molecules and does not require any energy. For example, when someone opens a bottle of ammonia in a room, the ammonia gas will diffuse or spread away from the bottle to areas of lower concentration, gradually being smelled by more people.

Diffusion is crucial in various biological processes, such as the movement of substances within a cell's cytosol or through the plasma membrane. It is not specific to water and can occur with different substances and in different states of matter. The spontaneous movement of molecules from regions of higher concentration to regions of lower concentration is explained by kinetic theory.