💨Diffusion vs Osmosis💧
Cells move substances passively without using energy. Diffusion and osmosis are two related ways this happens.
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💨Diffusion
- ✓The spreading of particles from high to low concentration
- ✓Can involve gases, liquids or dissolved solutes
- ✓Does not require a membrane
- ✓Continues until concentration is even
- ✓A passive process needing no cellular energy
💧Osmosis
- ✓A special type of diffusion involving only water
- ✓Water moves across a partially permeable membrane
- ✓Water flows toward higher solute concentration
- ✓Always requires a semi-permeable membrane
- ✓Also a passive process needing no cellular energy
Verdict
Osmosis is a specific case of diffusion: the movement of water across a membrane. Diffusion is the broader process that can move any particles, with or without a membrane. Both are passive.
Frequently asked
Is osmosis a type of diffusion?+
Yes. Osmosis is the diffusion of water specifically, across a partially permeable membrane.
Do these processes need energy?+
No. Both diffusion and osmosis are passive and need no energy from the cell.
Which way does water move in osmosis?+
Water moves from a region of lower solute concentration toward higher solute concentration.
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