What Is The Difference Between Osmosis And Diffusion

One big difference between osmosis and diffusion is that both solvent and solute particles are free to move in diffusion but in osmosis only the solvent molecules water molecules cross the membrane.

Osmosis is slower in nature while diffusion takes place at a faster rate. Difference between diffusion and osmosis the question of stating the difference between diffusion and osmosis is a very common one. Diffusion is not dependent upon water for flow of molecules while osmosis takes place only in water. Furthermore osmosis requires a semi permeable membrane while diffusion does not.

Thus to understand this we need to look closer at these two processes individually. Diffusion is a spontaneous movement of particles from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration. Osmosis n the process of distributing water across semi permeable membranes to dilute higher concentrations of particles. Osmosis is dependent on one solvent to the another for the reduction of free energy whereas in the case of diffusion the movement of molecules is from the area of their higher free energy to the area of the lower free energy.

Diffusion is the process for all three states of matter solid liquid gas whereas the process of osmosis only takes place in liquids. Osmosis is a spontaneous movement of solvent molecules from a region of low concentration to a region of high concentration across a semi permeable membrane. Diffusion is not dependent on the solute potential on the mixture whereas osmosis is dependent on the solute potential of the mixture. Diffusion and osmosis difference how are diffusion and osmosis alike neither process can initiate unless there is a difference in the concentration of particles between two regions.

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Diffusion n the process of spreading particles from a high concentration to an area of lower concentration. According to these biological definitions osmosis is a form of diffusion. Osmosis can only function in a liquid medium but diffusion can occur in all three mediums solid liquid and gas. The processes are complete only when the concentration of the particles becomes even in both regions equilibrium.

Diffusion takes place over both short as well as long distances whereas osmosis can take place over short distances only.