Difference between osmosis and diffusion

Answer 1

Diffusion is the movement of substance (anything- solid ,liquid, gas, etc.) from a higher concentration gradient to a lower concentration gradient.

Osmosis is the net movement of water molecules from higher concentration gradient to a lower concentration gradient through a partially permeable membrane

So the difference is that diffusion involves movement of any particles/ substance (e.g. solid, liquid, gas) while osmosis can only occur with water.

Another one is that diffusion can occur with or without a membrane but osmosis can only occur with a membrane.

Hope this helps. :)

Answer 2

Diffusion is the movement of a substance from a higher concentration to a lower concentration.

Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a semi-permeable membrane.

So the difference is that diffusion involves movement of any particles (e.g. solid, liquid, gas) while osmosis can only occur with water.

Another one is that diffusion can occur with or without a membrane but osmosis can only occur with a membrane.

Hope this helps. :)

Answer 3

Osmosis is the movement of a solvent (water) into a cell where the concentration of a solute is higher, the lower concentration of solute being outside the root cells. Diffusion involves the spreading of a solute from areas of higher concentrations to areas of lower concentration within a solvent.

Osmosis is made possible by a semi-permeable membrane which allows the solvent in, instead of allowing the solute out.

Answer 4

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. Diffusion is the movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration, resulting in equal distribution of molecules. In short, osmosis specifically refers to the movement of water molecules, while diffusion can involve any type of molecule.