what are the similarities and differences between diffusion and osmosis?

Answer 1

Osmosis is the movement of water through a selectively permeable membrane from a region of low solute potential to a region of high solute potential (or equivalently, from a region of high solvent potential to a region of low solvent potential). The semipermeable membrane must be permeable to the solvent, but not to the solute, resulting in a pressure gradient across the membrane. Osmosis is a natural phenomenon. However, it can be artificially opposed by increasing the pressure in the section of high solute concentration with respect to that in the low solute concentration. The force per unit area required to prevent the passage of solvent through a selectively-permeable membrane and into a solution of greater concentration is equivalent to the turgor pressure. Osmotic pressure is a colligative property, meaning that the property depends on the concentration of the solute but not on its identity.


Computer simulation of process of OsmosisOsmosis is an important topic in biology because it provides the primary means by which water is transported into and out of cells.

Diffusion, is spontaneous spreading of matter (particles or molecules), heat, momentum, or light. Diffusion is one type of transport phenomenon. Diffusion is the movement of particles from higher chemical potential to lower chemical potential (chemical potential can in most cases of diffusion be represented by a change in concentration). It is readily observed, for example, when dried food like spaghetti is cooked; water molecules diffuse into the spaghetti strings, making them thicker and more flexible. It is a physical process rather than a chemical reaction, which requires no net energy expenditure. In cell biology, diffusion is often described as a form of passive transport, by which substances cross membranes.

Answer 2

Well diffusion and osmosis both involve the transport of substances through membranes however diffusion encompasses all types of things lyk salts, sugars etc. whereas osmosis is ONLY about water. Diffusion is completely random whereas with osmosis there must be a concentration gradient between the two substances for the water molecules to move from the area of high water concentration to an area of lower water concentration.

Answer 3

Osmosis only involves movement of water particles. Diffusion is for a gas. Both are from high concentration (of water in the case of osmosis) to lower.

Answer 4

Diffusion
Movement of molecules(not water) from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration

Osmosis
Movement of water molecules from a region of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration through a semi permeable membrane.

Similarities both move from higher to lower concentration and both are examples of passive transport

Answer 5

diffusion deals with the movement of materials from hi to low concentration

osmosis is the diffusion of WATER thru a semi permeable membrane...

similiarities: movement of something